Point-Noire, Congo - Before the start of these 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba would have targeted their two matches against Nigeria as the key fixtures in Group A.
But things changed a bit after the first two rounds. Suddenly, the Republic of Congo have emerged as the team to beat after they shot out of the starting blocks with a surprise 3-2 victory over the African champion Super Eagles.
The Red Devils lead the standings with six points after dispatching Sudan at home in their second outing.
This was a remarkable start, especially as Congo only qualified for the group stage of the qualifiers after Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in their aggregate victory over Congo in the preliminary round.
Bafana are second in Group A following an away win over Sudan and a hard-fought draw with Nigeria in Cape Town.
And that is why Mashaba and his team are taking aim at Congo. Saturday’s match here at the Stade Municipal (kick-off 4.30pm SA time) and Wednesday’s clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane could be the two defining clashes in Group A as far as qualification for Morocco 2015 is concerned.
Mashaba is targeting two wins, which would effectively ensure that they qualify for their first Afcon since Carlos Alberto Parreira steered Bafana to the 2008 continental tournament in Ghana. CAF uses a head-to-head rule instead of goal difference as a tiebreaker in the qualifiers.
“If you look at this game, it’s not just about the points but the qualification for the 2015 Afcon. If we do well here and win the two matches, I think we are home and dry,” Mashaba said on Friday at the team’s hotel in this coastal city.
“But we have to be wary of this team. These people came in through back door, and after a good start they might have told themselves that ‘this is our second chance’.
“Beating Nigeria also gave them the belief that they can do it. It’s going to be a tough game for us, but I would say that we will be ready for them.”
The veteran coach is expecting a war of attrition on the synthetic surface of the match venue.
Congo have a couple of powerhouse players in midfield, and play a hard-running game. Their chief destroyer up front is the La Liga-based Thievy Bifouma, who scored a brace against Nigeria and set up the third goal.
Bafana, though, showed against the Super Eagles that they won’t shy away from a scrap. The two bull terriers in midfield, Dean Furman and Andile Jali, will have to neutralise the home team’s attacking threat while also allowing the ridiculously talented Thulani Serero the freedom to create havoc for Bafana on attack.
But Furman and physical right-back Thulani Hlatshwayo will have to tread lightly as they are on a couple of yellow cards and will miss the return match in Limpopo if they get booked this afternoon.
Mashaba, though, doesn’t want to rein in the duo’s natural aggression in what is expected to be a hostile atmosphere.
“Let’s leave all the other things - it’s going to be a physical game,” Mashaba said. “Shoving, pushing - it’s going to need strong match officials.
“If you tell a player to be careful of picking up a yellow card, then you are going to lose the game.
“I’m saying play all out. If you get a card, you have got to know why you got a card. If you fight with the referee, then that is stupid. But if it’s a 50/50 tackle, it is okay. If he doesn’t tackle and the player goes past, the coach will fight with him.”
Meanwhile, Mashaba says he hasn’t decided who will wear the captain’s armband for this afternoon’s clash.
Goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa led the team in the first two matches of the coach’s tenure against Sudan and Nigeria, but wasn’t appointed on a permanent basis.
“As I indicated, I don’t want a permanent captain because we want to create and build up leaders in this team. Everybody must realise that they have chance of becoming a captain,” he said.
“But on the other hand, you need a player who is a link between the coach and the players. That takes away his concentration and his focus, so you need a strong player, physically and mentally.
“We haven’t made up our mind yet.
“We are still evaluating the decision.”
Saturday Star