South Africa v Ivory Coast – Saturday 12th November – Mandela Bay Stadium, PE (15:15)
Steven Pienaar - Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana’s efforts to restore their pride following their embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be put to test when they face Ivory Coast this weekend. Bafana will face Ivory Coast in the 17th edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge to be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
South Africa have won it seven times and lost on seven occasions, with two matches ending in a draw. Bafana Bafana’s last win came in 2009 when they defeated Norway in Rustenburg; a year earlier they had beaten Cameroon to lift the trophy. Last year, South Africa lost 1-0 to the United States of America in Cape Town. The West Africans come to the match ranked as the number one country on the continent and 19th in the world on the FIFA Rankings, while the home team is ranked 8th and 49th respectively.
Bafana will be without Thulani Serero, Andile Jali and less likely starter Erick Mathoho as South Africa’s U23’s prepare for the 2012 London Olympic Qualifiers. Bafana will be boosted by the return of Captain Steven Pienaar whose talents were clearly missed in Bafana’s last two AFCON 2012 Qualifiers. Moeneeb Josephs is likely to start in the nets as Itumeleng Khune still recovers from injury.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Moeneeb Josephs, Wayne Sandilands
Defenders: Morgan Gould, Happy Jele, Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela, Bongani Khumalo, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Punch Masenamela, Musa Bilankulu, Bevan Fransman
Midfielders: Daylon Claasen, Hlompho Kekana, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Oupa Manyisa, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Teko Modise, Granwald Scott, George Lebese, George Maluleka, Steven Pienaar
Strikers: Kermit Erasmus, Siyabonga Nontshinga, Katlego Mphela and Bradley Grobler.
Three days later, on Tuesday, 15 November, Bafana Bafana will take on neighbours Zimbabwe in an international friendly match at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
The 19-man squad is composed of Ivory Coast’s top professionals including Arsenal’s Gervinho, the Toure brothers of Manchester City and Chelsea’s winger Salomon Kalou. The Elephants Captain, Didier Drogba, will be rested for the event following a recent surgery he undertook to remove screws inserted in a previous operation from his arm. Ivory Coast are playing their best football and have probably their strongest ever squad representing the nation. They were brutal in their AFCON qualifying matches, winning all 6 games and scoring 19 goals in the process.
The Ivorians are clearly the stronger but Bafana won’t make it easy and should rise up to the occasion here. Bafana always stamp their authority in home matches and will have their fair share of possession. The draw is tipped.
