NEWS: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos turns to in-form striker in search of goals against Algeria

Rayners is primed to lead the attack for Bafana when they come up against a formidable Algeria side in their second FIFA Series outing on Tuesday.

The clash will take place at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday at 23:00 (SA time).

Bafana’s lack of a goal-poacher was once again brought to the centre stage when Broos’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by European minnows Andorra in Algeria on Thursday.  

“This has been a problem for several years in South African football. We really don’t have a big scorer, even when there are guys who score rather easily in the local competition (Premier Soccer League),” Broos said.

Cape Town City forward Khanyisa Mayo led the attack against Andorra and will likely make way for Stellenbosch FC’s Rayners.

The two strikers are some of the leading scorers in the DStv Premiership, with Mayo on nine goals while Rayners has seven.

“Mayo is on (nine) goals (in the league), and Rayners is also on something like that. So, we will see about Iqraam on Tuesday. He will play.” Broos said.

“But everybody has to know that those international games are one or two levels higher compared to the PSL, so it will not be easy to score.”

Mamelodi Sundowns’ Brazil-born star Lucas Ribeiro is the leading scorer with 10 goals.

With Burnley’s Lyle Foster, Lebo Mothiba of French side Strasbourg and Evidence Makgopa not available for this international break, Bafana have been left quite thin up front.

Broos hopes that at least two of the three will be back for the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe in June.

“There are three strikers that are not here. Makgopa is not here, Mothiba is not here, and Lyle Foster is not here. So, there are some people to wait for.”

With Algeria posing more danger to SA compared to Andorra, Broos has confirmed he will bring back most of his available regulars for the clash.