Bafana have no reason to miss the (Afcon) boat this time

The ramifications of Bafana Bafana failing to qualify for yet another major tournament will be huge

South Africa faces Libya in a more than do- or-die Afcon qualifier at a neutral venue in Tunisia tonight, hoping to bury the ghosts of 2017, when Bafana missed out on the continental championships in Gabon.

This time around, Bafana need just one point to qualify for this year’s Afcon in Egypt in June and July.

Either way, the outcome of the match against the Libyans in Sfax will have a bearing on coach Stuart Baxter’s future.

South Africa had promised so much in their Afcon qualifying campaign, only to find themselves with a knife at the throat in their final group game.

Baxter conceded that, “if I am going to draw a conclusion as to why we are where we are now, it’s because we haven’t shown consistency as a team and that’s my responsibility, because I’m the one selecting the team”.

Already, the coach is guilty of yet another inconsistency after he had promised to “get the most efficient and fittest team”.

The fact that he called up the half-fit France-based duo of Keagan Dolly and Bongani Zungu for such a crucial game contradicts Baxter’s initial undertaking.

The pair arrived in camp at a time when they were still in phases of rehabilitation following long lay-offs due to injuries. Baxter reasoned that he brought the two back for “assessment”.

The Libya fixture is a once-off and the coach should have handed the two slots to more deserving candidates. Cape Town City in-form striker Kermit Erasmus springs to mind.

Even his coach, Benni McCarthy, felt he was worth a place in a game that Bafana are desperate to see a positive result from.

Baxter’s move has already backfired as Dolly – who was picked as one of the strikers – was ruled out for selection due to stiffness in his right hamstring.

Baxter now has Percy Tau, Lebogang Mothiba, Lebohang Maboe and Holland-based Lars Veldwijk as his options up front.

Libya are no pushovers and they proved this in the first-leg meeting, where Baxter bizarrely reasoned that his players didn’t understand the tactical game plan in a match that yielded a goalless draw in September.

Although the Libyans tamed Tau on that afternoon in Durban, the Belgium-based player this week warned that he was not under pressure to deliver.

“Not at all,” he said as a way of shrugging off the huge expectations placed on his tiny shoulders. “I never put pressure on myself and I never think there is pressure because we are 11 guys on the pitch and everyone has a role to play.”

The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker added: “There’s no pressure when there is team effort.”

Although there are signs that Baxter could take a cautious approach tonight, any coach can get the best out of Kamohelo Mokotjo and Thulani Serero in times like these.

Holland-based Serero could eventually give his best away from the pressure of the home fans, who still hold grudges against him for previously deserting the team.

The SBV Vitesse midfielder knows how to utilise pockets of space between the line of the opponents’ midfield and defence.

Serero and Tau can benefit from Mokotjo, who has the ability to pick his team-mates with near-flawless passes.

SCHEMER Ahmed Fahim Ben Ali is one of Libya’s intelligent players and the Bafana midfielders must keep him in check tonight

The Brentford FC player can play a more attacking role alongside Hlompho Kekana in midfield, with a special instruction for the Mamelodi Sundowns captain not to attack.

This approach will ease pressure in the rearguard, where Thulani Hlatshwayo is expected to lead a Bidvest Wits- dominated defence, in which Sifiso Hlanti, Buhle Mkhwanazi and goalkeeper Darren Keet will in all likelihood get the nod.

Libya might have undergone three coaching changes in their qualifying campaign, but they also have individual players who can lift the team.

One such talent is their Italy-based midfielder Ahmed Fahim Ben Ali. The David Silva lookalike possesses football intelligence – his peripheral vision and confidence on the ball is completed by his crisp passing. The bald schemer also packs a hard shot.

Bafana will remember Ali well, because he was a handful at Moses Mabhida Stadium. He was again Libya’s standout player when they ran Nigeria close despite a 3-2 defeat in October – the same day Baxter’s men could only come away with a goalless draw against the Seychelles.

This time, Baxter has been afforded all the support he asked for, including from Safa and the PSL, which both acceded to his request to get an extended training camp in the build-up to tonight’s game.

Should Bafana miss the boat, Baxter must walk. Another failure will mean a big loss, especially for the players who are earmarked to boost Safa’s Vision 2022 by acquiring experience at major tournaments such as Afcon.

The outcome against the Libyans will still have a decisive impact on the future of the coach, who is also still reeling from failing to qualify for last year’s World Cup.

With Banyana Banyana going through to the Women’s World Cup, the Under-20 men’s national team off to the U-20 World Cup and the women’s Under-17 team recently returned from their global championships, Bafana is the only missing link to complete the circle.

A loss today will mean they become the only national football team to fail to qualify for their designated continental tournament.