South Africa’s chances of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations next year may have all but gone but that does not mean their penultimate qualifier against Gambia in Banjul today does not have any significance.
Coach Shakes Mashaba’s side have just three points from a possible 12 in a pool that includes minnows Mauritania and although they can mathematically qualify‚ it would take a startling collapse from group leaders Cameroon.
They must hope that the tie between the Indomitable Lions and Mauritania tonight ends in a draw and that South Africa then beat the latter in their final qualifier in September, and that Gambia win away in Cameroon.
Even if that most unlikely scenario unfolds‚ it may not be enough as Cameroon have a superior goal difference.
A maximum points haul could see them finishing as one of the two best runners-up and book a ticket to Gabon‚ but it is also a long shot.
And so really it is a chance to look ahead to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers that start in October‚ but also for Mashaba to restore some ailing public confidence.
After his remarkable and laudable success in qualifying Bafana Bafana from a difficult group for the Nations Cup in 2015‚ the team’s fortunes have been on a steady slide and with that has come the inevitable talk over Mashaba’s future.
The only way to quieten the dissenting voices is to get back on the winning trail and in Gambia the side has a real chance of that.
Gambia are ranked the fifth-worst team in Africa according to Fifa and although they showed some mettle in a 0-0 draw with Zambia last weekend‚ they should not possess the quality to match Bafana.
But then we said that of Mauritania last year and the 3-1 loss in Nouakchott was as poor a Bafana display as we have seen in recent times.
Mashaba believes Gambia will at least play a more open game than in the 0-0 draw in Durban in the opening group qualifier, when they did come with the proverbial bus‚ but the home side also missed a host of chances.
“What makes us happy is that they have got to play now‚” Mashaba told reporters. “They are at home‚ they have to come out playing so that’s why I was interested to see them in a friendly against Zambia recently.
“Fortunately they played at home and Zambia had their best team‚ it was not a makeshift team‚ so they are going to open up. They must and that’s where I think we want them.
“I watched them in what would have been their last practice match against Zambia. Four of their best players were not there but I always say, ‘Yesterday‚ today‚ tomorrow will never be the same’.
“What do I mean by saying that? You might see your team playing well today and tomorrow it’s a different team altogether. We need to be prepared for everything that we might come across against Gambia and Mauritania.”
Sundowns skipper Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ hotly tipped for a move to Kaizer Chiefs‚ could earn his first cap at right-back after the injury to Anele Ngcongca left Mashaba light there.
Andile Jali and Hlompho Kekana are likely to continue in the middle of the park‚ with Thulani Serero possibly on the left and Mandla Masango taking up his position on the right wing.
Thamsanqa Gabuza’s strength and strong running make him a likely starter in the number nine role‚ with Sibusiso Vilakazi tipped to play off him.
Itumeleng Khune should earn his 76th cap in goal‚ closing in on Benni McCarthy (80 caps), in fourth place on the all-time list of Bafana appearances.
Time to snatch victory from jaws of defeat
Coach Shakes Mashaba’s side have just three points from a possible 12 in a pool that includes minnows Mauritania and although they can mathematically qualify‚ it would take a startling collapse from group leaders Cameroon.
They must hope that the tie between the Indomitable Lions and Mauritania tonight ends in a draw and that South Africa then beat the latter in their final qualifier in September, and that Gambia win away in Cameroon.
Even if that most unlikely scenario unfolds‚ it may not be enough as Cameroon have a superior goal difference.
A maximum points haul could see them finishing as one of the two best runners-up and book a ticket to Gabon‚ but it is also a long shot.
And so really it is a chance to look ahead to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers that start in October‚ but also for Mashaba to restore some ailing public confidence.
After his remarkable and laudable success in qualifying Bafana Bafana from a difficult group for the Nations Cup in 2015‚ the team’s fortunes have been on a steady slide and with that has come the inevitable talk over Mashaba’s future.
The only way to quieten the dissenting voices is to get back on the winning trail and in Gambia the side has a real chance of that.
Gambia are ranked the fifth-worst team in Africa according to Fifa and although they showed some mettle in a 0-0 draw with Zambia last weekend‚ they should not possess the quality to match Bafana.
But then we said that of Mauritania last year and the 3-1 loss in Nouakchott was as poor a Bafana display as we have seen in recent times.
Mashaba believes Gambia will at least play a more open game than in the 0-0 draw in Durban in the opening group qualifier, when they did come with the proverbial bus‚ but the home side also missed a host of chances.
“What makes us happy is that they have got to play now‚” Mashaba told reporters. “They are at home‚ they have to come out playing so that’s why I was interested to see them in a friendly against Zambia recently.
“Fortunately they played at home and Zambia had their best team‚ it was not a makeshift team‚ so they are going to open up. They must and that’s where I think we want them.
“I watched them in what would have been their last practice match against Zambia. Four of their best players were not there but I always say, ‘Yesterday‚ today‚ tomorrow will never be the same’.
“What do I mean by saying that? You might see your team playing well today and tomorrow it’s a different team altogether. We need to be prepared for everything that we might come across against Gambia and Mauritania.”
Sundowns skipper Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ hotly tipped for a move to Kaizer Chiefs‚ could earn his first cap at right-back after the injury to Anele Ngcongca left Mashaba light there.
Andile Jali and Hlompho Kekana are likely to continue in the middle of the park‚ with Thulani Serero possibly on the left and Mandla Masango taking up his position on the right wing.
Thamsanqa Gabuza’s strength and strong running make him a likely starter in the number nine role‚ with Sibusiso Vilakazi tipped to play off him.
Itumeleng Khune should earn his 76th cap in goal‚ closing in on Benni McCarthy (80 caps), in fourth place on the all-time list of Bafana appearances.
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