The boys are back!!! Yes, Bafana Bafana are set to entertain South African football lovers on foreign terrain, facing Guinea in Belgium with payback on their mind after sorely missing out to qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the most unfortunate circumstances.
Yes, Ghana cheated, and the referee had one of the poorest displays on live television, but I digress, lets’ get straight into our preview!
To Win
South Africa 15/20 | Draw 28/10 | Guinea 3/1
South Africa
This Friday, head coach Hugo Broos will be aiming to earn South Africa’s first ever victory over Guinea, so Bafana Bafana are heading to his own backyard in Kortrijk, Belgium which could possibly tilt the odds in our favour. But playing the world champions, France, in Lille will surely be on everyone’s minds within the camp.
Especially the players who would want to further impress coach Broos with solid performances that could ink their names into the starting XI under the lights of Tuesday night’s glamourous tie at the home of the French Ligue 1 champions Lille (Stade Pierre Mauroy).
Broos’ predecessors failed in both previous meetings between the nations. Joel Santana’s 2008/09 team succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. Meanwhile, under the tutelage of Ted Dumitru at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, South Africa finished bottom of Group C and Guinea topped the group after collecting a full haul of nine points, beating Bafana Bafana (2-0) at the Haras El-Hodood Stadium (Border Guard Stadium).
South Africa were buzzing en route to qualification to reach this year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament but ultimately fell short and sorely missed out on another major competition. A goalless draw against Zimbabwe was followed by four consecutive victories – impressively with four clean sheets in five matches.
Fans including myself were confident, and for a change, we didn’t have our calculators out until Ghanaian defender Daniel Amartey threw himself to the ground, earning the game-deciding penalty with the slightest of touches on his shoulder dropping him as if it were a Mike Tyson hook to the rib-cage and uppercut combination, but it was just Rushine De Reuck’s palm.
The match was also marred by poor refereeing – the culprit – Senegalese official Maguette N’Diaye. As you can tell by now, I’m still hurt by the manner of the “defeat” but my belief in the boys hasn’t wavered.
The team is going from strength to strength and it will be very interesting to gauge how far we’ve come as a unit on European soil for the first time in 12 years.
Guinea
The Guinean troops would have been boosted by the news of Al Ahly forward Percy Tau and Mamelodi Sundowns’ in-form full-back Thapelo Morena being ruled out days prior to the clash.
Tau is loved by Belgian fans from his time during spells at Royale Union Saint Gilloise (2018/19 Player of the Year) and Club Brugge where he featured in UEFA Champions League matches against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Thapelo Morena has been one of the key cogs in a Masandawana team that recently completed a double over giants Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League.
However, the National Elephants were hit most by the loss of captain Naby Keita who became unavailable with a reported knee injury. The absence of Liverpool’s midfield dynamo will give an opportunity to up-and-coming talent, Ilaix Moriba, to showcase what earned him a place at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
Another blow was Mohamed Bayo ruled out with a back injury – the 23-year-old forward was enjoying a sensational season at Clermont Foot in Ligue. Although, coach Kaba Diawara is spoiled for choice up top and won’t find any difficulty.
Jose Kante led the line for Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations and personally impressed me, while Sory Kaba who plays his football in Belgium will likely occupy Bayo’s role unless the manager opts to go for throwing young players in the deep end seeing as its only an international friendly
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu) & Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs).
Defenders: Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Terrence Mashego (Cape Town City), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Golden Arrows), Athenkosi Mcaba (Stellenbosch FC), Bandile Shandu (Orlando Pirates), Siyanda Xulu (Unattached), Rushine De Reuck, Khuliso Mudau & Lyle Lakay (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Keagan Dolly (Kaizer Chiefs), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Thabang Monare, Goodman Mosele (Orlando Pirates), Mothobi Mvala & Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns).
Forwards: Victor Letsoalo (Royal AM), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Lyle Foster (Westerlo), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United) & Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids FC).
Prediction: South Africa Win
I’m confident South Africa can reach top gear and gain confidence with a win over Guinea going into the much-anticipated clash with France. Tau will surely be a miss for Bafana Bafana, but with Keagan Dolly stepping back into the fray, I don’t see any drop in quality within the ranks.
