Bafana Bafana will be without both stalwart fullbacks, Anele Ngcongca and Thabo Matlaba, in their must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon at Moses Mabhida Stadium tonight.
Already the South Africans’ chances of reaching Gabon 2017 hang by a thread.
Ordinarily a 2-2 draw in Cameroon would be considered a fine result.
However, given Bafana started with a 0-0 home draw against Gambia then a 3-1 away defeat to Mauritania they now need to win their three remaining games, and hope for Cameroon to lose all of theirs, to stand an almost impossible chance of winning the group.
Or, perhaps more realistically, but still a long shot, South Africa need maximum points to add to their current two to try to make their way up the standings of best group runners-up, the best two of whom qualify for the Afcon.
Team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said left back Matlaba will miss the match as he is feeling dizziness from the mild concussion he sustained from a clash of heads in Limbe on Saturday.
Ngcongca had to go off – and was replaced by Rivaldo Coetzee at right-back in the 45th minute – with a calf strain, and will not recover for tonight’s match.
Midfielder Mpho Makola pulled up with a quad muscle injury later yesterday, and is also unavailable.
Coetzee and Mamelodi Sundowns’ uncapped Asavela Mbekile are coach Shakes Mashaba’s options at right back. On the left the choice is between Bidvest Wits’ Sifiso Hlanti and Cheslyn Jampies of Jomo Cosmos, neither of whom have been capped.
Bafana captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said the loss of the team’s two front-line fullbacks is clearly a blow.
“We’ll definitely miss their experience because that’s the back four that has been playing constantly. But again, we’ve got the experienced Rivaldo Coetzee who’s been partnering Tower in central defence.
“He did fairly well at right back. On the left it’s the coach’s job to choose between Hlanti and Jampies. They’ve been working very hard at training. If one of them gets to start the match they will definitely do well, too.”
Darren Keet has a stomach bug and Jackson Mabokgwane will deputise for Khune at ’keeper.
Khune said Bafana need to improve on protecting a lead, a weak point that also cost the team going
1-0 up three times at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament in Equatorial Guinea, against Algeria, Senegal and Ghana, but failing to beat all three.
On Saturday South Africa took the lead twice, through Tokelo Rantie in the 17th minute, then Hlompo Kekana’s world- class wonder strike from within his own half in the 50th.
Sebastien Siani, in first half injury time and Nicolas Nkoulou (66th) equalised softly for Cameroon.
Injuries rock Bafana boat
Bafana Bafana will be without both stalwart fullbacks, Anele Ngcongca and Thabo Matlaba, in their must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon at Moses Mabhida Stadium tonight.
Already the South Africans’ chances of reaching Gabon 2017 hang by a thread.
Ordinarily a 2-2 draw in Cameroon would be considered a fine result.
However, given Bafana started with a 0-0 home draw against Gambia then a 3-1 away defeat to Mauritania they now need to win their three remaining games, and hope for Cameroon to lose all of theirs, to stand an almost impossible chance of winning the group.
Or, perhaps more realistically, but still a long shot, South Africa need maximum points to add to their current two to try to make their way up the standings of best group runners-up, the best two of whom qualify for the Afcon.
Team doctor Thulani Ngwenya said left back Matlaba will miss the match as he is feeling dizziness from the mild concussion he sustained from a clash of heads in Limbe on Saturday.
Ngcongca had to go off – and was replaced by Rivaldo Coetzee at right-back in the 45th minute – with a calf strain, and will not recover for tonight’s match.
Midfielder Mpho Makola pulled up with a quad muscle injury later yesterday, and is also unavailable.
Coetzee and Mamelodi Sundowns’ uncapped Asavela Mbekile are coach Shakes Mashaba’s options at right back. On the left the choice is between Bidvest Wits’ Sifiso Hlanti and Cheslyn Jampies of Jomo Cosmos, neither of whom have been capped.
Bafana captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said the loss of the team’s two front-line fullbacks is clearly a blow.
“We’ll definitely miss their experience because that’s the back four that has been playing constantly. But again, we’ve got the experienced Rivaldo Coetzee who’s been partnering Tower in central defence.
“He did fairly well at right back. On the left it’s the coach’s job to choose between Hlanti and Jampies. They’ve been working very hard at training. If one of them gets to start the match they will definitely do well, too.”
Darren Keet has a stomach bug and Jackson Mabokgwane will deputise for Khune at ’keeper.
Khune said Bafana need to improve on protecting a lead, a weak point that also cost the team going
1-0 up three times at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals tournament in Equatorial Guinea, against Algeria, Senegal and Ghana, but failing to beat all three.
On Saturday South Africa took the lead twice, through Tokelo Rantie in the 17th minute, then Hlompo Kekana’s world- class wonder strike from within his own half in the 50th.
Sebastien Siani, in first half injury time and Nicolas Nkoulou (66th) equalised softly for Cameroon.
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