Former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach and director of Stars of Africa Football Academy, Farouk Khan, has explained how Relebohile Mofokeng could be key for Bafana Bafana against Egypt in a 2025 AFCON Group B tie.
Mofokeng was an unused substitute in Bafana’s 2-1 victory over Angola in the national team’s opening match of the AFCON in Morocco on Monday. South Africa had a dream start to the Nations Cup after collecting maximum points thanks to goals by Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster in each half.
In the second-half of the match, head coach Hugo Broos brought in Tshepang Moremi, Elias Mokwana, and Bathusi Aubaas to impact the match from the bench. Orlando Pirates star Mofokeng was one of the players who didn’t play a role in the matchday squad as Bafana had to dig deep to beat Angola.
FAROUK KHAN BACKS RELE MOFOKENG FOR A CRUCIAL ROLE AGAINST EGYPT
With Bafana gearing up for the highly anticipated match against Egypt, Farouk Khan has suggested that the 2023 AFCON bronze medallists will need Mofokeng’s creative spark to overcome the North African giants.
“For me, the missing link [against Angola] was Rele, even though we won the game, I do think that Mofokeng should have come on instead of Mokwana,” Khan said on the Soccer Beat podcast.
“I’ll tell you why, the two pivots of Teboho Mokoena and Sphephelo Sithole don’t give us that much creativity. We need someone like Rele against Egypt because you know the quality of their defence.
“And I also understand why Broos didn’t bring in Rele, he was probably concerned about the physicality of Angola, but now we meet a team that is ball-playing orientated.
“So we know Rele’s ability against ball-playing teams. Personally I would say he’s the one that’s going to turn the game against Egypt on its head and give us the creative spark in midfield.”
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