Komphela urges Bafana to show their identity at Afcon

Bafana have been drawn in Group D alongside Morocco, Namibia and Ivory Coast, with pundits describing the group as a tough one for Stuart Baxter’s side.

READ: Baxter says SA are not at Afcon ‘to make up the numbers’

“It is a tough one but who is it easy for? South Africa must just have confidence and go to the Afcon to go and reflect on who South Africa is as a nation. When you go to the World Cup, they profile us as an African country and what are the characteristics of Africans,” said Komphela.

“We have to have a way that defines South Africa. We will go to the Afcon to show the rest of the team what it is to be South African and the pride of South Africa. If you don’t have identity you’ll be confused which is what we suffer from sometimes, lack of identity.

He added: “The team is matured and we have to give respect to the players and the coach. There is nothing wrong about wanting to go there and win it. Go through group stages and then knockout stages and then anything can happen. It has happened before and South Africa must have that confidence, arrogance and belief to say we are capable and that is the message we send to these players.”

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