Kick-off for the AFCON qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Guinea na 15:00. With just under 30 minutes to kick-off, both teams don come out for pitch dey warm up. The match XIs to follow shortly.
South Africa head coach Pitso Mosimane don make am clear say qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations no be the only objective for Bafana Bafana. Di head coach set him sights on ending South Africa long wait for continental success. Di 62-year-old boldly declare say him return to national team dugout dey driven by desire to secure silverware rather than just participating for major tournaments. Di South African head coach believe say national team must move beyond mere satisfaction of qualifying for continental showpieces and push to win di ultimate prize.
Di former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly mentor determine to restore di nation to him former glory. He insist say di standard for di national team must raise well well during him current tenure. Speaking to media ahead of Saturday AFCON qualifier against Guinea, Mosimane acknowledge di importance of qualification but stress say di bigger ambition na to compete for and win di tournament. Him comments reflect growing confidence within di camp as dem prepare for dia latest competitive outing. Di manager eager to instil winning mentality right from di start of him reign.
Mosimane direct well well when dem ask am whether having talented group of players bring added pressure to deliver trophy. Di coach no shy away from di expectations wey dem place on him shoulder. Instead, he embrace di challenge of leading a new generation of South African stars. He understand say public demand for success high, especially given di resources and talent wey dey available within di domestic and international setup. Di veteran tactician emphatic about di primary reason he accept di responsibility of leading di national side once again.
Addressing di drought of major honors for di 1996 champions, he state: ‘We need a cup. We haven’t won it for how long? It’s too long, right? So, we need a cup. I want to win a cup. I’m not saying I’m going to win it, I want to win it. That’s why I’m here.’ Di experienced mentor add say di players share di same ambition, while recognising say Bafana must first qualify before dem can pursue di trophy. It be pragmatic approach from coach wey don win everything at club level across di continent. He fully aware say di road to glory dey paved with difficult hurdles, starting with di immediate task of securing dia spot at di upcoming tournament through di qualification phase.
‘I think the players here want to win the cup, right? If we don’t win a cup, what are we doing?’ he add. ‘We are trying to qualify again? You can’t win the cup if you don’t qualify, you know the levels and the steps you need to do, to get to win the cup. But yeah, that’s the objective to try and win a cup, maybe in five years, win one cup,’ he conclude.
Bafana starting XI na 1 Ronwen Williams (gk/captain), 6 Aubrey Modiba, 21 Ime Okon, 24 Olwethu Makhanya, 25 Kamogelo Sebelebele, 13 Sphephelo Sithole, 4 Teboho Mokoena, 10 Relebohile Mofokeng, 12 Thapelo Maseko, 7 Oswin Appollis, 30 Iqraam Rayners. Subs na Goss, Chaine, Poggenpoel, Sibisi, Morena, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Moremi, Seema, Basadien, Aubaas, Zwane, Mailula, Mbuthuma, Singh, Matthews.
A fan hold up poster following a spate of acts of femicide on di East Rand in Gauteng, with 10 women killed since July. Love lives here. Di matriarch of di Sonti family na by far di best dressed here. Mpokeli don take him kids to tag along for Bafana first match since dia historic run at di 2026 FIFA World Cup. Di ‘landlords’ dey here to make sure everyone behaves in ‘dia’ arenas. Di Montja family come all di way from Soshanguve in Pretoria. Di Botes dey among those making today a family affair. So are di Ntimanis, from Protea Glen, here in Soweto. Xoliswa Sokabo dey show both di Boks and Bafana some love.
Di first step to silverware see Bafana take on Guinea at di Orlando Stadium on Saturday with nothing less than three points towards dia qualification required.
