The lions of Teranga come hunting in South Africa next Tuesday and the prey they stalk is the prestigious Nelson Mandela Inaugural Challenge Cup.
Senegal brought the soccer world to a standstill in June and July when they beat defending champions France 1-0 in Korea during the World Cup. They went on to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament — becoming just the second African team to do so.
For Bafana Bafana, though, Senegal are an unknown quantity as the two nations have never met before on the soccer pitch.
South Africa have played Cameroon, the other African nation to progress to the World Cup quarterfinals, and famously beat the Indomitable Lions in the first post-isolation game 10 years ago in Durban.
This Bafana Bafana team, however, is solid at the back but lacks talent or is goal shy in attack — and this could be a problem against the World Cup stars. Ephraim ”Shakes” Mashaba and his boys will have to be in great form if they are to defend the pride of former president Mandela.
Albert Mokeona, chief operations officer of the South African Football Association (Safa), said: ”Senegal have given a commitment that 90% of their World Cup squad will play Bafana Bafana.”
Mashaba has assembled a squad of 30 players that will be cut to 18 before the game. In Mashaba’s squad there are nine players who participated in the World Cup.
But the good news for Bafana Bafana is that goalscorer Shaun Bartlett will be back and leading the strike force alongside Patrick Mayo, who has been in devastating form in front of goal.
”For the first time there is a big list of strikers in the squad,” said Mashaba, acknowledging that there has been a problem in that department, with most recent Bafana goals coming from midfielders.
Delron Buckley, Sibusiso Zuma, Macbeth Sibaya and Tebogo Mokoena command the midfield department with intelligence, authority and ball-playing ease, but defenders such has Mbulelo Mabizelaand Aaron ”Jaws” Mokoena will have their hands full containing Senegalese stars such as El Hadji Diouf.
Mashaba has heralded this as one of the most important games of his coaching career, and said: ”I have been praying that God makes me 30 years younger to able to play in this game.”
Senegal captain Aliou Cissé lost a dozen members of his family in the Le Joola ferry disaster that claimed more than 1 000 lives.
Albert Mokoena said: ”Safa will be donating part of the gate takings to Senegal as condolence for the disaster that affected them during the year.”
Mandela will be guest of honour at the match at Ellis Park.