13 November 2019 – Bafana Bafana have completed their preparations for the crucial Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana.
South Africa held one training session at home before flying out of the country, and had two more sessions at the match venue, Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana.
Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki says although it is not ideal, they have to do their best and soldier on.
“You can ask any coach of the national team they all tell you time is not on our side, but we have to do the best we can,” said Ntseki.
“The aim here is to get three points and then focus on the clash against Sudan on Sunday. I am just happy all the players are here with us and were able to put in the required work to get ready for this massive mission ahead of us.”
The match against Ghana will be the start of the road to Cameroon for the 2021 AFCON.
In the previous tournament played in Egypt, South Africa started their qualifiers away to Nigeria in Uyo and came back with a convincing 2-0 victory – and they will be hoping for the same in Ghana.
“We did well at the time, and I am almost confident the boys haven’t forgotten that. I hope it works as a morale boost that anything is possible,” added Ntseki.
Bafana Bafana and Ghana face off at the Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana on Thursday night (14 November 2019 at 9pm SA time).
The match venue is where Banyana Banyana defeated Mali 2-0 about a year ago in the semi-finals of the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, a result that saw them qualify for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup held in France in June.
Ntseki’s charges come into the fixture against Ghana at the back of a 2-1 win over Mali in the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge played in Port Elizabeth last month.
This will be Bafana Bafana’s 12thmeeting with the Black Stars of Ghana – South Africa has beaten the West Africans five times and lost on three occasions, with three matches drawn.
The first encounter was back in 1994 in the Four Nations Cup, and Bafana Bafana won 2-1. The last encounter was in 2016 and ended in a 1-1 draw in Durban – it was an international friendly match.
Bafana Bafana will host Sudan three days later (Sunday, 17 November) at the Orlando Stadium.
Kickoff is 15h00.
Tickets for that match are already on sale and can be purchased at Computicket outlets, Shoprite and Checkers stores for R40 all round.
SOUTH AFRICA vs GHANA – HEAD-TO-HEAD
P W D L GF GA
11 5 3 3 11 10