Posted in Features, News on Mar 22, 2019.
Stuart Baxter’s troops are in second place in Group E and need to avoid a defeat in order to secure their place for this year’s Afcon tournament scheduled for 21 June to 19 July in Egypt.
Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana captain and goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune will unfortunately miss this important clash due to a shoulder injury sustained late last year.
‘Mzansi’s Number One’, as Khune is affectionately known, says he will be watching the game from the comfort of his home, rooting for the boys to go for the three points and qualify for the tournament.
“It’s sad that I am not part of a match of this magnitude as it is a decider for us as a country. I believe in the three keepers that have been selected and I know they are more than capable of keeping a clean sheet,” says Khune. “More importantly, I have faith in the team, and I urge the guys to go all out and make South Africa proud. We are fully behind them and know they will seal our spot in the final list of qualifiers.”
Baxter has included Kaizer Chiefs duo of goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma and defender Daniel Cardoso in his final squad that has travelled to Sfax in Tunisia.
Bafana Bafana last qualified for this continental showpiece in 2015 under the tutelage of Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba.
In the other Group E match, already qualified Nigeria welcome Seychelles in Asaba on Friday. Another Kaizer Chiefs goalminder, Daniel Akpeyi is in Nigeria’s squad for the match.