Bafana eye play-off spot but Ghana could benefit from Orlando away day

Whatever happens this week, as Bafana Bafana aim to top Group G and make it into the mix as one of the final 10 sides competing for five spots at Qatar 2022, it is fair to argue that Hugo Broos has done better than expected in his first attempt at qualifying South Africa for a senior tournament.

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The Belgian coach has certainly kept Bafana in the running for the World Cup finals longer than Eskom appear capable of keeping the lights on, not that the country’s power supplier are a bar for success in any way, shape or form.

Bafana’s World Cup qualifying bar, however, was also pretty much at a level that even the most flexible limbo dancer might struggle to get under when Broos came in, following Molefi Ntseki’s failed attempt to get the side to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.

And yet here we are, with Bafana a point clear of Ghana at the top of Group G, with two qualifiers left to play.
The Black Stars, particularly now with all their overseas-based stars in tow, have to still be favourites to make it, provided they beat Ethiopia, with the final qualifier against Bafana back on home territory.

Yet this young group of Bafana players have re-ignited a certain spark in the national team, and Broos has impressed with his tactical nous, his bravery in selection, and if the spats with certain club coaches have left an unsavoury taste, there is certainly also an argument that Bafana are better off with someone who tells it like it is, rather than a coach who simply tows the party line.

Bafana have won well, in a fine performance at home to Ghana, and won ugly, notably in the 1-0 victory over Ethiopia at FNB Stadium in the last qualifier. But won they have, and another win over Zimbabwe on Thursday, followed by a point in Ghana, will see them into the play-offs, whatever happens elsewhere.

The ideal scenario, for the nerves of Bafana supporters in particular, would be a win over Zimbabwe coupled with an Ethiopia victory over Ghana, which would mean Broos’ men could go to Ghana with victory in Group G already secured.

This seems unlikely, particularly as Ghana have to travel not to the faraway Bahir Dar, as Bafana did, to play on a cabbage-patch pitch, but to Johannesburg, and the smooth surface of Orlando Stadium.

The literal lack of a level playing field here is not fair, and is an issue that needs to be addressed by Fifa and the Confederation of African Football.

Either way, Bafana need to focus on getting the job done against Zimbabwe on Thursday, so that they can head to Ghana at the very least knowing a point will get them through.

Zimbabwe are out of the running in Group G, but would no doubt love to put a spanner in the works of their noisy neighbours.