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Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba might be without several key players when the team assembles for camp at the Milpark Hotel this evening.
With Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns (both Champions League) and Bidvest Wits (Confederation Cup) involved in crucial second-leg ties in Confederation of African Football (CAF) interclub competitions away from home, it means not all the selected Bafana players from these clubs will report for camp tonight.
Mashaba will be crossing his fingers that everyone reports on time and injury-free, especially the nine players who are on CAF club duties.
Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune and Eric Mathoho are in the Ivory Coast for the return leg against Asec Mimosas this afternoon. Chiefs will arrive in South Africa tomorrow.
Hlompho Kekana, Asavela Mbekile and Themba Zwane were part of the Brazilians’ travelling squad for their fixture against AC Leopards in Congo-Brazzaville yesterday. They are also expected back tomorrow.
Thulani Hlatshwayo, Siyabonga Nhlapo, Sifiso Hlanti and Jabulani Shongwe were all in Tanzania with Wits for their clash with Azam. Of the three Chiefs players called up by Mashaba, only winger William Twala will join the national team tonight because he is not registered for the CAF club competition.
Mashaba is under no illusion about the enormity of back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Cameroon.
Bafana need to lift themselves off the foot of Group M against the west African four-time continental champions on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is at 4.30pm SA time.
South Africa faces early elimination from the qualifiers after bagging a single point in their opening two fixtures of the group stage.
Bafana drew against Gambia and lost to Mauritania last year.
Mashaba’s men will undoubtedly need no extra motivation in Limbe and next Tuesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban – they need at least four points to stand a chance of qualifying for the Gabon tournament next year.
Failure to do so against the Indomitable Lions, who are top of the group after two wins, would dash Bafana’s hopes for the Afcon in Gabon.
Bafana began their campaign with a shock goalless draw against Gambia at home and followed this up with an embarrassing 3-1 loss to Mauritania.
Cameroon will no doubt have the advantage going into these back-to-back meetings, not just in terms of points, but the Lions will also rely on their home crowd for support in Saturday’s game.
Cameroon’s new coach, Hugo Broos, has called up West Ham midfielder Alex Song for the two games.
Last week Mashaba emphasised the need to win both matches. He said Bafana should aim for an automatic spot at the finals or at least be one of the two best runners-up.
“The log dictates to us we must win away and at home if we are to go to Gabon. We are not that bad that we can’t even qualify as the second-best.
“I have heard people talking about must-win matches – and these are the ones. We have only one point and they [Cameroon] have six, and to add salt to the wound, some of our key players are not active in their clubs, have lost form, are out injured or have just returned from injury.”
Goalkeepers Jackson Mabokgwane and Khune returned to action only last week for Mpumalanga Black Aces and Kaizer Chiefs, respectively. Strikers Tokelo Rantie and Thamsanqa Gabuza have also been inactive. But Mashaba believes in their experience for the games.
