What Bafana & Namibia’s key men said ahead of crucial AFCON clash

Key men in both camps have spoken before the highly anticipated Southern African derby clash between Bafana Bafana and Namibia.

There will be so much at stake when these two teams take to the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Sunday night [10pm].

Bafana Bafana desperately need a win to get their campaign back on track, while the Brave Warriors know a win would earn them a Round of 16 spot straightaway. Bafana were beaten 2-0 by Mali, while Namibia edged Tunisia 1-0 on Tuesday.

Clashing in the AFCON will be like a déjà vu for many players, as a large chunk of both squads share the familiar stomping grounds of the DStv Premiership.

The PSL’s top goal scorer, Peter Shalulile, and one of the best defenders in the league, Riaan Hanamub, will line up for the Brave Warriors.

The reigning Footballer of the Season, Teboho Mokoena, 2022/23 Defender of the Season, Khuliso Mudau and Goalkeeper of the Season, Ronwen Williams, will likely start for Bafana Bafana.
Here’s what Shalulile and Mokoena have said ahead of Sunday night’s showdown in Ivory Coast.

TEBOHO MOKOENA

Undeterred by opening-game stumbles against Mali, Mokoena sees an opportunity for Bafana to right the ship and steer their AFCON campaign back on course. “It is not really a ‘must-win’,” Mokoena told Safa Media on Thursday. “Of course, I won’t be happy [if we don’t win], but we mustn’t lose.”

“In the first half, tactically, I think we were good [against Mali],” said Mokoena. “But in the second half, they were more physical and managed to beat us.

“South African players are not really so strong [physically]. It was a really tough one to swallow. I watched the game and still have the same feeling that we could have done better. Now we have an opportunity to do better in the second game.”

PETER SHALULILE

While nine of his teammates wear the Bafana colours, the Sundowns’ attacking maestro scoffs at the notion of insider knowledge guaranteeing victory.

“Bafana is a good team, good players, we all know – but for us, we take it game by game, day by day, and all we promise ourselves is to pitch up and give our best, and by giving your best, we can’t [predict] the outcome,” he said.

“We’re not guaranteed a win even though you know and play with some guys; the national team is something else; you have to play against them, but come on Sunday – you never know, you never know what type of game we bring.

“We’re hoping for a result, hoping for the best for us and trying to make it out of the group stages, that’s our aim.”

HUGO BROOS AND COLLIN BENJAMIN

In a fascinating AFCON clash, the youngest coach of the tournament, 45-year-old Benjamin, will lock horns with the most experienced, 71-year-old Broos.

Broos said: “It’s something special; these guys are playing in South Africa, so they want to show something; they want to beat us; this is a normal thing in sports with two neighbouring countries when they play each other.”

Benjamin said: “We know South Africa has good players and are capable of playing that high-intensity game; the bulk of the team is made up of a team who play that high pressing game, good on the ball, etc, so that DNA is definitely in there.”

Possible XI
Bafana: Williams [C], Mudau, Kekana, Modiba, Mvala, Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Morena, Tau, Makgopa

Namibia: Kazapua [GK], Hanamub, Haukongo, Nyambe, Petrus, Amutenya, Tjiueza, Shitembi, Limbondi, Hotto, Shalulile (C).

RELATED STORY: Three decisive changes Hugo Broos must make to secure Bafana victory