This is what Bafana Bafana did not want – the proverbial group of death. Last night, in the draw for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Malabo, the capital of host country Equatorial Guinea, South Africa were drawn with three tough teams in Ghana, Senegal and Algeria.
Algeria are the top-ranked African country, Senegal are fourth, Ghana are fifth, with South Africa at 11th.
Bafana are certainly in for a real challenge when the competition kicks off in the west African country next year.
The tournament was initially slated to be held in Morocco, but the north African nation insisted it wanted a postponement because of fears around Ebola.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body of the sport on the continent, was adamant that Afcon 2015 would take place from January 17 to February 8 next year.
It asked for other countries to step in and Equatorial Guinea put its hand up.
In attendance last night was Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, who also assisted with the draw process. And, as South Africa’s name was drawn in Group C, Mashaba must have cringed at the thought of the quality and talent his emerging team would have to face.
Nevertheless, Bafana will, no doubt, still feel confident going into the tournament, especially after a superb qualifying campaign. Mashaba’s side went through the qualifiers unbeaten and were largely responsible for dumping current African champions Nigeria out of the 2015 event.
The team is nicely settled now, with new captain Dean Furman and Andile Jali growing in stature with every game. The defence, too, has impressed, with Bafana conceding just three goals during qualifying.
Players like Kaizer Chiefs centre-back pair Erick Mathoho and Tefu Mashamaite, Ajax Cape Town teenager Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Khumalo and Thabo Matlaba ensure that things are kept tight. As such, goalkeeper Darren Keet, from Bothasig in the Mother City, is able to take up his position on the goal-line with a sense of security.
There’s no denying the difficulty of the task ahead for Bafana. The opposition awaiting them in Equatorial Guinea are giants of the continent. But if Mashaba – and South Africa – want to be mentioned among the best on the continent once more, this draw gives them a chance to make a point.
The coach said after the draw that he preferred to be in a tough group, so that there would be no complacency.
“Algeria are very tough, very tactical, and quick going forward. They will be a problem team to beat. Senegal are physical, very strong, and have a couple of players playing abroad.
“We are more or less on the same level as Ghana,” he added.– Cape Argus