Bafana Bafana vs Senegal – our predictions

Phakaaathi’s Jonty Mark and Khaya Ndubane argue the toss here for who will win and why.

Why Senegal will win (Jonty Mark, Phakaaathi editor)

It would be amazing, glorious and inexplicably wonderful if Bafana Bafana could beat Senegal twice in the next four days and qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

But as much as my heart wills it to be so, my head says it is just not going to happen. I think, in fact, that Senegal will finish the job in Polokwane this evening, defeating Bafana and getting their ticket to Russia without even having to worry about the return match in Dakar on November 14.

Bafana can come with all the spirit they like, with a fervent crowd behind them at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The simple fact is that Senegal have the better players, from Kalidou Koulibaly to Cheikhou Kouyate to a fit again Stadio Mane.

Bafana did ‘beat’ Senegal last year at the same venue, but only via an awful penalty decision and, in my opinion, an accidental strike from Thulani Serero.

Of course, referee Joseph Lamptey has subsequently been banned for life for match manipulation in that game, and if Bafana deserve some sympathy for Fifa’s decision to order Friday’s replay of that match, they can have none for the two defeats to Cape Verde that has put them in a poor position in qualifying. Yes, Bafana beat Burkina Faso last month, but Senegal are a step up in class, and I think they will end Bafana’s hopes on Friday with a win.

It must be remembered that Bafana are also suffering from injury and suspension troubles, with Thulani Hlatshwayo and Itumeleng Khune doubtful and Andile Jali and Bongani Zungu banned for the Polokwane match. And this only adds to my feeling that Senegal will take this one, 2-1.

Prediction: South Africa 1 Senegal 2

Why Bafana will win (Khaya Ndubane, online content manager)

Senegal might have more quality players than South Africa, but history shows that with all the quality they possess, the Teranga Lions have always struggled against Bafana Bafana.

In fact, it’s been 12 years since Senegal last beat South Africa, with their last victory coming via a 3-2 win in a friendly match in 2005. The score itself shows that it was a tough win for them even back then.

With thousands of South Africans set to descend at Peter Mokaba Stadium tonight, I see a victory for Bafana Bafana, not just any win, but a convincing win.

The return of Itumeleng Khune comes as a major boost for Stuart Baxter’s side. Khune kept the dangerous Sadio Mane at bay the last time the teams met, and it led to a 2-1 win for Bafana. The result of that match might have been declared null and void because of the Fifa ruling, but that game showed that Bafana are capable of beating Senegal and I see them beating them tonight.

Who knows? We might even beat them again in their own backyard on Tuesday, but before that Bafana will do the job tonight.

Prediction: South Africa 2 Senegal 0

READ: Khune starts for Bafana vs Senegal