What will it take for Bafana to beat Namibia?

Percy Tau missing the first half penalty against Mali

Bafana Bafana were the worst performing nation from the Southern African region on Match-Day One of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in the Ivory Coast. Hugo Broos’ men lost 2-0 to Mali while their fellow COSAFA members Mozambique, Angola and Zambia gained credible draws against quality opposition. Remarkably, Namibia were victorious – the Brave Warriors winning for the first time at the finals in 4 appearances via a 1-0 defeat of highly-rated Tunisia.

It is the same Namibia that South Africa has to beat on Sunday if they are to remain with a chance of progressing to the knockouts. Here's my look ahead to the Southern Africa derby.

WHAT’S THEIR HISTORY....

This will be the third meeting between the two countries at the AFCON finals, and Bafana Bafana is enjoying the upper hand, having won the previous two. The discerning fan will still have vivid memories of Benni McCarthy’s four-goal demolition job in that 4-1 Group A victory in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1998. Thereafter, there was that 1-0 win at the 2019 edition, a result that ensured Bafana sneaked into the knockout as the worst of the best four third-placed teams. There is, however, the small matter of their tightly-contested friendly international played in September and ended goalless that should no doubt have Namibia believing they have the beating of their much more illustrious neighbours.

HOW THEY STARTED ...

South Africa: They kick-started the campaign miserably, losing 2-0 to Mali despite having had the chance to go ahead via a first-half penalty kick that Percy Tau inexplicably missed. While the loss would have dented their confidence, Bafana can focus on their first-half performance from that match and take some positives out of it. They played with confidence, knocked the ball about purposely as they bravely took the Eagles on and created scoring opportunities that they should have made better use of. Get that right and victory is attainable.

Namibia: ‘Like a house on fire’ would be the best way to describe the Brave Warriors’ opening match of the tournament. Hitherto never to win at the tournament, Namibia produced arguably the biggest shock of Match-Day One by beating third-ranked Tunisia 1-0. The scoreline could well have been much wider had Peter Shalulile been his usual clinical self, but Deon Hotto’s headed goal was enough for a famous victory that will see the team made up largely of players plying their trade in the South African leagues believing they can beat Bafana for the first time.

WHAT THEY NEED

South Africa: Broos was spot on in his post-match address when he said “We have to win against Namibia’. It is a no-brainer really. Bafana MUST win.

Namibia: They will definitely want to beat Bafana for the first time, but a point would be enough to see them make it to the knockout stage.

HOW DO THEY ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVE

South Africa: Against Mali, Bafana impressed in the first half with their passing game and they were brave to take the game to the opposition. They need to play that way again and add to it clinical finishing to take advantage of the chances they create. Have Themba Zwane playing freely as he does at Sundowns; Aubrey Mudau must venture into opposition territory much more so he can create opportunities for the forwards, his attacks will also help force Hotto to retreat; use Grant Kekana in the heart of the defence instead of Siyanda Xulu to deal with the Shalulile threat.  

Namibia: The Brave Warriors lived up to their moniker against Tunisia, a similar no-fear approach will work wonders against Bafana. An in-your-face type of play, harassing the South African defence with incessant attacks and a high are what will do the trick for Collin Benjamin’s team. Just like Bafana, Namibia are not very big boys, but they would have seen that their adversaries don’t like getting physical and a little bit of that could work wonders. Shalulile needs to be much more precise in his finishing, like he is for Sundowns and Hotto must continue to be a nuisance on the flank. Because they merely need a draw, they should defend as resolutely as they did in the first match and another stellar showing in goals by Lloyd Kazapuwa is what they need.

WHO ARE THE DANGERMEN?

South Africa:

Percy Tau - Despite that penalty miss, Tau remains Broos’ go-to-man for goals and the Al Ahly attacker would better have gotten over his blooper come Sunday. On his day, he is a forceful, nippy forward who is adept at cutting in from the wing and finding his way to either scoring or creating chances for his teammates.

Namibia:

Peter Shalulile – Though Deon Hotto scored that historic goal against Tunisia, it is the Mamelodi Sundowns striker Bafana should fear the most – Shalulile’s ability to get into scoring positions and finish well a well-known fact here in MZansi.

My prediction: Bafana to win 2-1