‘Shabba’ on Bafana’s AFCON and World Cup qualifiers’ chances of success
Former Bafana Bafana international Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala has weighed in on the national team’s chances of success in the upcoming AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
With just two months remaining before Bafana’s eagerly anticipated return to the AFCON stage, the team is poised to make a mark after their absence from the last edition.
But before that, SA still have to battle it out in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which starts on Saturday against Benin.
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“The biggest objective is to qualify for the World Cup. But there are small hurdles that we need to overcome in order to achieve that goal, which is to qualify,” said Siphiwe Tshabalala.
“So each and every game is very important. Each and every game can make you and can also break you. So when it comes to the national team there is no such thing as a friendly game.”
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The former Kaizer Chiefs captain is confident the Hugo Broos-led squad have what it takes to cause an upset in Ivory Coast.
“We do have a strong chance. In football you always get a chance, each and every game is an opportunity for you to do well and do better,” added Tshabalala.
“There are games coming up now which I believe the focus should be on those games that will help us enhance our chances of qualifying for the World Cup,” he said referring to the qualifiers.
“Then in two months’ time, it’s a big spectacle in the Afcon and I also believe that we do have a chance as well. We just need to make sure that we are consistent and work hard to make sure that we qualify for the next round which is a stage whereby anything can happen.
“But I do believe that we have a squad to compete. I do believe that we can cause a great upset in the tournament.”
South Africa are in the same group as Namibia, Mali, and Tunisia.
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