Beating Algeria will take a display of focus and concentration, SA U23’s centre-back Rivaldo Coetzee warned his teammates ahead of their Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal in Dakar tonight.Coetzee knows what he is talking about. The Ajax Cape Town defender was part of the Bafana Bafana team who took the lead in all three games in their Group of Death against Algeria, Senegal and Ghana at this year’s senior Nations Cup, but never won a game.
Tonight at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor, Coetzee has a chance at a rematch of sorts against Algeria, whose senior team beat Bafana 3-1 at the Afcon in Equatorial Guinea in January. The defender warned the U23s against emulating Bafana’s inability to protect a lead.
“I’ll say to the guys, especially those in defence, that I know how difficult it is at tournaments where you lead a game, then that lapse of concentration can cost you the whole tournament,” the Bafana defender said.
“That’s what happened at the Afcon. It will be important to keep our focus, concentrate, and make sure we don’t concede any silly goals.”
The U23s’ run to the semis has caught the country’s imagination. They now have two bites at the cherry to either beat Algeria and reach the final, or win the third-fourth-place playoff match, to finish in the top three and reach next year’s Olympics.
Given the other semifinal is between hosts Senegal, who beat Young Bafana 3-1 in the opening game, and SA’s nemesis Nigeria, Owen da Gama’s team will want to wrap up qualification for Rio 2016 tonight.
That makes this a huge game for South African football. A first Olympic qualification since 2000 could provide Bafana with a new generation of talent for the next decade.
“Everyone knows how big this is and what qualifying for Rio can do for us, and for our careers,” said Coetzee.
“It’s a stage to make a name for ourselves and secure a contract overseas. So it’s for ourselves and the country as well.
“But it will be important to play our normal football. And to work hard. Because you know how these North African teams are – they don’t have the talent we have, but they work hard, and I think sometimes that’s key.”
The SA Football Association’s backing of previously inactive junior teams has yielded results. The SA U20s qualified for their Caf champs after a tour of West Africa led to a win against Cameroon.
The U23s have played friendlies against Egypt and Tunisia in the last six months. A further 1-0 win against Tunisia on Friday to clinch a place in these semis means Da Gama’s team have a good idea what to expect from North African opposition.
Coetzee said the South Africans’ first target should be another clean sheet.
“If you do that you will always have a chance of winning the game. In every game so far we’ve created chances. But I think it will also be key to convert those chances and maybe score an early goal and put Algeria under pressure,” he added.
Algeria progressed at the expense of Egypt and Mali by topping Group B on goal difference from Nigeria.
Let’s knock Algerians stone cold
Coetzee knows what he is talking about. The Ajax Cape Town defender was part of the Bafana Bafana team who took the lead in all three games in their Group of Death against Algeria, Senegal and Ghana at this year’s senior Nations Cup, but never won a game.
Tonight at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor, Coetzee has a chance at a rematch of sorts against Algeria, whose senior team beat Bafana 3-1 at the Afcon in Equatorial Guinea in January. The defender warned the U23s against emulating Bafana’s inability to protect a lead.
“I’ll say to the guys, especially those in defence, that I know how difficult it is at tournaments where you lead a game, then that lapse of concentration can cost you the whole tournament,” the Bafana defender said.
“That’s what happened at the Afcon. It will be important to keep our focus, concentrate, and make sure we don’t concede any silly goals.”
The U23s’ run to the semis has caught the country’s imagination. They now have two bites at the cherry to either beat Algeria and reach the final, or win the third-fourth-place playoff match, to finish in the top three and reach next year’s Olympics.
Given the other semifinal is between hosts Senegal, who beat Young Bafana 3-1 in the opening game, and SA’s nemesis Nigeria, Owen da Gama’s team will want to wrap up qualification for Rio 2016 tonight.
That makes this a huge game for South African football. A first Olympic qualification since 2000 could provide Bafana with a new generation of talent for the next decade.
“Everyone knows how big this is and what qualifying for Rio can do for us, and for our careers,” said Coetzee.
“It’s a stage to make a name for ourselves and secure a contract overseas. So it’s for ourselves and the country as well.
“But it will be important to play our normal football. And to work hard. Because you know how these North African teams are – they don’t have the talent we have, but they work hard, and I think sometimes that’s key.”
The SA Football Association’s backing of previously inactive junior teams has yielded results. The SA U20s qualified for their Caf champs after a tour of West Africa led to a win against Cameroon.
The U23s have played friendlies against Egypt and Tunisia in the last six months. A further 1-0 win against Tunisia on Friday to clinch a place in these semis means Da Gama’s team have a good idea what to expect from North African opposition.
Coetzee said the South Africans’ first target should be another clean sheet.
“If you do that you will always have a chance of winning the game. In every game so far we’ve created chances. But I think it will also be key to convert those chances and maybe score an early goal and put Algeria under pressure,” he added.
Algeria progressed at the expense of Egypt and Mali by topping Group B on goal difference from Nigeria.
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