Bafana Bafana find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings as they prepare to face Mali in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations last eight encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday evening in Durban.

Why would Bafana Bafana be unfamiliar territory? well they are in the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 having also been in the last eight in 1996, 1998 and 2000.

The reason is simple. The hosts are the only non- West African side left in the competition and only Bafana Bafana stand in the way of West Africa claiming their first title since 1994 when Nigeria were Champions.

Since then they have watched North Africa win five titles, Southern Africa through South Africa and Zambia – two, while Central Africa with Cameroon leading the way have also won two titles in this time.

Bafana Bafana have faced Mali just once previously which was at the same stage of the 2002 tournament, on February 3rd 2002 hosts Mali eliminated South Africa winning 2-0, in Kayes in the Sahara desert.

While there are no survivors from that game in the Bafana Bafana team, three Malians Adama Coulibally, Fousseni Diawara and Seydou Keita were in the Eagles line-up on that day almost eleven years ago.

That victory for Mali gave them a boost as their National team went from strength to strength, while, until their elimination to Mali in 2002, Bafana Bafana had won their three previous Quarterfinal Matches, defeating Algeria in 1996, Morocco in 1998 and Ghana in 2000.

Since 2002 in their next three attempts Bafana Bafana failed to get beyond the group stages, so in a way defeating Mali will help exorcise the Ghosts for South Africa and their failures in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Heading into their fifth Quarterfinal in the Nations Cup history South Africa know that a win will galvanize the Nation as they look potentially to a semifinal against Ivory Coast or Nigeria.

Mali are also looking to bring unity to their country currently in the grip of civil strife and believe that a lengthy stay for them at the Nations Cup will help unify Mali.

While South Africa have lost once in four previous Quarterfinal appearances, Mali in their four past last eight meetings have won them all, and in 2012 they defeated then co-hosts Gabon on penalties.

Mali who ended the 2012 Nations Cup third have also never lost to a Nations Cup host having on four previous occasion come up against them, they have drawn three of these and won one game.

They famously came from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with Angola, the 2010 hosts, during the opening game of that tournament, although drawing with Gabon in 2012 they did win the game on penalties.

Records though are meant to be broken and Bafana Bafana have already trampled over a number of them in getting to the last eight, a fourth Quarterfinal win is not impossible and with Chiefs striker Lehlohonolo Majoro back in the frame after missing the final group game against Morocco.

Gordon Igesund has further attacking options now at his disposal, Majoro trained on Thursday with the rest of his teammates for the first time since picking up an injury against Angola a week ago.

He along with another Chiefs player Siboniso Gaxa are expected to feature, Gaxa is until now the only one of seven Chiefs players in the squad yet to see any game time. In the youth of his career Seydou Keita proved Bafana Bafana’s tormentor and now in the twilight of his career Bafana will look to exact revenge on the Malian hit man.