Bafana Bafana are in high spirits going into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off this weekend.
In the last edition, Hugo Broos’ men finished in third place, which was their best showing at the tournament since 2000. The AFCON success took the team to new heights, and in October, they qualified for their first FIFA World Cup since 2002.
With a squad that has been together for over two years, eyes will be on South Africa this tournament. Having qualified for the World Cup and going over 20 matches unbeaten has brought Bafana attention and teams will be ready for them.
Why Bafana might struggle in one department at AFCON
Bafana look stable at the back with Mbekezeli Mbokazi leading the backline alongside the more experienced Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba. With captain Ronwen Williams in goals, Broos’ men are unlikely to concede more than five goals in the tournament.
In the midfield, Teboho Mokoena will again showcase his class and look to win more battles in the middle of the park. In the last AFCON, the Bafana star was named in the team of the tournament.
The defence and midfield look sharp but the problem is the attack. While Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota and Tshepang Moremi are good wingers, Bafana lack a clinical striker.
Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster have often fired blanks, which could be a problem at AFCON. A tournament of this magnitude demands strikers to be clinical because they might not get enough chances.
If Bafana are to win the AFCON, they need to have their strikers firing. Either of them needs to at least score three times for the team to have any chance of emulating the class of 1996.