Hugo Broos will likely be tempted to make a few changes when Bafana Bafana visit Liberia for the return leg of their AFCON qualifier.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday 6pm [SA time] at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, the West African country’s capital.
This is coach Broos’ most decisive game since he took over the Bafana hot seat. He would not have felt this kind of pressure at any point in his tenure as South Africa’s coach.
“Tomorrow [Tuesday] at four o’clock, I will be nervous,” Broos admitted when asked whether he felt any pressure about the match.
“I think this is totally normal even when I have 35 years experience as a coach. I know that tomorrow it’s a very important [match] for South Africa.
“We like to win and we have to win to be assured of a next year. There will be normal stress. It’s normal being nervous. But now today, I’m not at all.”
WHY LIBERIA TIE IS BROOS’ MOST DECISIVE
First, the game against Ghana, which cost Bafana passage to the next round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, came on the back of an unexpected run.
Bafana had flattered, punching above their weight in that qualifier run. Notably, the weight of taking South Africa to the FIFA World Cup was not as heavy as that of taking the team to AFCON.
The AFCON is considered the bare minimum, and failing to beat Liberia, ranked 167th, was a little treasonous on Friday at Orlando Stadium.
So, going to Monrovia, with fellow Group K contender, Morocco, having already qualified for the AFCON, pressure is on Bafana.
The Lone Stars, playing in front of a home crowd for the first time in three years, are in a better position. At the SKD Stadium, which has Astro-turf, Liberia coach Ansu Keita has vowed they want to make Bafana suffer.
And daggers will be drawn on Broos should he fail to qualify for the AFCON. Here are a few changes Broos should consider when Bafana take to the famous SKD.
THE CHANGES HUGO BROOS SHOULD CONSIDER
IN DEFENCE
Changing the entire back four may not be ideal, but he may want to swap Aubrey Modiba for Innocent Maela, who is better defensively. He may also want to bring on Nkosinathi Sibisi in place for Mothobi Mvala in central defence.
Sibisi, more comfortable on the ball, will likely bring back a little stability in his backline. Mvala is a penalty waiting to happen in central defence, and playing away from home in Africa; he will need to avoid giving away penalties.
IN MIDFIELD
Sphephelo Sithole seems the most aggressive of the central defensive midfield options available. If he can produce a performance similar to the one in Rabat, Morocco, he could easily turn the game in Bafana’s favour.
In fact, against the Atlas Lions, it was ‘Yaya’ Sithole’s pass that set up Lyle Foster for the opening goal. Of course, the hosts ended up winning 2-1. Sithole could come on for Luke Leroux.
That would leave Teboho Mokoena to play at eight, with his Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Themba Zwane the third midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation.
IN ATTACK
One of Broos’ wrong substitutions in the first leg was the introduction of Monnapule Saleng. In Monrovia, Pirates’ darling winger must wait on the wings.
Again, Broos kept Percy Tau on for way too long. Granted, the Bafana forwards struggled to convert in the first leg.
But he does have options upfront. Cassius Mailula could start in a front three alongside Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Lyle Foster.
Hopefully, the attackers would do better in the final third as Bafana look to bounce back to contention for a place at the AFCON.
PREDICTED STARTING XI
Williams, Morena, Xulu, Sibisi, Maela, Mokoena, Sithole, Mailula, Hlongwane, Foster.
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