South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, secured a 2-1 win against Guinea at Orlando Stadium in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier. Coach Pitso Mosimane expressed satisfaction with the team's depth and quality, except in the striking department. Mosimane, who returned for his second stint as national coach, emphasized that he has sufficient cover in defense and midfield but lacks experienced and consistent goal-scorers.
The team's strikers have failed to score in their last five matches, dating back to the 2026 Fifa World Cup opener against Mexico in June. In their recent match against Guinea, goals were scored by defenders Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini. This trend is concerning for Mosimane, who wants to build a well-rounded team. He mentioned that he has enough options in other positions, with players like Mbekezeli Mbokazi returning to training.
Mosimane's concerns about the striking department are amplified by the fact that the goals in their previous World Cup matches were scored by midfielder Teboho Mokoena and winger Thapelo Maseko. The coach wants to experiment with different players and formations in the upcoming friendly matches, including the game against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday.
To address the issue, Mosimane has called up 30 players for the current camp, which includes three matches. He aims to build depth and cover for injuries while getting familiar with the leading national playing candidates. The coach emphasized that having a large squad is essential to compete at a high level and that he cannot afford to have limited options.
Mosimane also discussed the injury concerns, with Aubrey Modiba limping off against Guinea due to a tight hamstring. However, he is pleased to have backup options for the left-back position, including Kabini and Kamogelo Sebelebele. The coach stressed that having a large squad allows him to manage player fatigue and injuries effectively.
Bafana Bafana's next match is against Eritrea at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday. The team will then face Kenya away and home in November, followed by matches against Guinea away and Eritrea at home in March next year. The 2027 Afcon is being co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, with the host nations participating in the qualifiers only to gain competitive experience.
Mosimane expressed his desire to play more friendly matches to fine-tune his team but acknowledged the financial constraints. He emphasized the importance of building relationships with clubs to ensure that players are available for national team duty. The coach is focused on preparing his team for the upcoming Afcon tournament and the challenges that come with it.
Key points
- Mosimane is concerned about the lack of experience and goal-scoring consistency in his team's striking department.
- Bafana Bafana has struggled to score in their recent matches, with the last five games resulting in no goals from the strikers.
- Mosimane has called up 30 players for the current camp to build depth and cover for injuries.
