NTSEKI HAS HIS PLAN B AT HAND
COVID RULES: ZUNGU AND TAU AT RISK OF WITHDRAWING
Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki says he has made provision in case any of his overseas-based players are not available for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan at the end of this month, because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Ntseki called up several overseas-based players to his squad for the games against Ghana at FNB Stadium on 25 March and against Sudan away from home three days later.
Brighton striker Percy Tau and Glasgow Rangers’ Bongani Zungu look the most at risk of being withdrawn by their clubs, because of strict regulations in the United Kingdom that mean players from South Africa would have to quarantine on their return.
Ghana appear to have already decided not to call up most of their overseas-based players, with a largely local-based squad in camp for the last three weeks.
“If it happens for us not to get players from England (and also, presumably, Scotland), because of Covid regulations, before I approved the team list I gave profiles of players to be considered if anything happens to any of the players in the team,” said Ntseki at a press conference in Johannesburg this week to announce the Bafana squad.
Ghana and Sudan are South Africa’s direct rivals for the two available places at the Afcon finals, with Sudan putting themselves right in the mix after beating Ghana 1-0 at home in their last qualifier.
Bafana were comfortably beaten 2-0 in Ghana in November 2019, but Ntseki says his side have learned from that defeat.
“We looked at how we lost against Ghana and what the conditions were,” said Ntseki.
“If you look at the balance of play we did not have more of the ball (than them). When you play a team like Ghana, possession is very important. And if we analyse the goals we conceded, they were giveaways. With the qualities we have, we are very skilful and creative, the goals we conceded were because of mistakes we made.”
Even if Bafana do lose to Ghana at home, they will still be guaranteed qualification with a win in Sudan due to a superior head-tohead record.