Bafana Bafana: Road to CAN 2010 uncertain

  1. Posted on Tuesday 17 June 2008 - 10:20
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    Sam Banda, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    South African national football team popularly known as Bafana Bafana, which is set to host the 2010 World Cup, is in danger of missing out of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola following their 0-1 loss to Sierra Leone on Saturday at their own backyard.
    South_Africa_Squad
    The Southern African country is in Group 4 which is led by Nigeria with nine points after they beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 on Sunday. Bafana Bafana is on second position with three points apiece with Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea but South Africa has a better goal aggregate.

    South Africa has only won one game which they beat Equatorial Guinea 4-1 at home however they have lost to Nigeria 0-2 and Sierra Leone 0-1.

    Nigeria is looking to qualify from Group four for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, while Bafana Bafana will have to play catch up.

    Bafana Bafana will have to go all out for wins in their remaining three games if they want to qualify for Angola.

    This weekend they host Sierra Leone in South Africa and this is a match they must win at all costs to qualify for Afcon, which will serve as good preparation for the World Cup about four months later.

    An Sabcnews.com report Sunday said South Africa played well but failed to score goals where it mattered most, a problem that existed even during Brazilian coach Carlos Parreira's era.

    The national team is now being coached by another Brazilian Joel Santana. For Sierra Leone their 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana which came courtesy of a penalty was their first victory in three matches - and also their only goal since the start of the qualifiers.

    There will be a two-month break on the qualifiers, before South Africa host Nigeria in September.

    The final match of the qualifiers is in October, with an away tie to Equitorial Guinea.

    In another game Zambia put themselves in a tough time on Sunday when they were held to a goalless draw by Swaziland.

    Zambia popularly known as Chipolopolo has now a single point in Group 11 which is led by Swaziland with four points seconded by Togo with three points.

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