Bafana Bafana defender Siyanda Xulu is not having any sleepless nights over facing Morocco’s stars in their CAF AFCON qualifier.
Bafana are set to welcome the Atlas Lions in their final Group K clash. The clash is scheduled to take place at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 17 June 2023.
Although both side’s have already qualified for the 2023 AFCON, there will be nothing friendly about their meeting at the Calabash.
Hugo Broos’ Bafana will be out for revenge. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Atlas Lion in last June’s reverse fixture away from home.
SIYANDA XULU NOT FAZED BY MOROCCO
One of Bafana’s most experienced squad members, Xulu, is fired up for the encounter. He is also confident they can pull off a good result.
Xulu, who is expected to start at centre back, insists he isn’t fazed by Morocco’s stars such as Youssef En-Nesyri, Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal.
“I think I have faced quite a few of those [quality players] in my career,” said Xulu.
“It’s just a normal game. I think whenever you face such quality players you go in having that awareness, it doesn’t come as a surprise.
“This is why you find big games like this one being tightly contested and interesting because they are the type of games where everyone wants to excel.
“You go in knowing what you’re up against. You slip up once and they score. So you have to be on your toes all game.”
Percy Tau should lead the attack this weekend, alongside Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Zakhele Lepasa.
The SA attacker, Tau recently lifted the CAF Champions League title with Al Ahly.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PERCY TAU
“We all know what Percy can do, he has done fairly well in the last few months and it only helps the national team to have players of his quality,” added Xulu.
“Its only good for us to have a fit Percy and for us as a team, confidence wise we will know for sure that upfront we can get something because of his presence.”
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