Big task ahead of Bafana as they leave for 2015 AFCON

Amidst the fact that Bafana Bafana are facing one of their most difficult tasks when they left for 2015 AFCON, they were in good spirits.

Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, and SAFA officials attended the send-off of 2015 Bafana Bafana team for CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 at OR Tambo on Wednesday December 7. The team is en route for Gabon to continue preparations for the tournament where they have scheduled a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday January 10 in Libreville, with another one against hosts Gabon on the cards.

CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 tournament starts on January 17 to 8 February 8.

“We are all behind Bafana Bafana team and they will carry the South African flag high,” said Minister of Sport, Mr Fikile Mbalula, “They have made AFCON qualification on their own merits and they are among the best in Africa and will play against the best teams.”

Bafana is in the group of death as they have to face the likes of the number one team in Africa, Algeria. “You don’t go to a tournament and think that you want to lose. The playing grounds are the same for each and this is a tournament, “said Head coach of Bafana Shakes Mashaba. “We will take them on and up until the first matches are played, we will not know how strong the other teams are.”

Bafana Bafana winger Thuso Phala believes anyone undermining South Africa at CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 will be doing so at their own peril.

The South Africans completed their preparations on home soil on Tuesday January 6 in Johannesburg.

Phala returned to the national team set-up having played his last match in March last year against New Zealand in Auckland.

He is gearing for his second AFCON after playing in the 2013 edition that was held in South Africa. The winger played in all four matches against Cape Verde, Angola, Morocco and Mali, who edged Bafana Bafana out on penalties after both sides were tied at 1-0.

Phala, who has been capped 14 times, scored his first international goal this past Sunday (January 4) which helped Bafana Bafana defeat Zambia by the odd goal.

“Everyone will be ready for the first match of the tournament against Algeria on the 23rd of this month,” said Mashaba.