By Ayanda Nyuswa
Bafana Bafana have returned to South Africa for their second home game of their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as they are set to welcome neighbours Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Blomfontein on Tuesday. Hugo Broos’ men are coming from a tightly contested 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles of Nigeria last Friday, a result that has placed them in fourth position in Group C of the African qualifiers with four points after three matches. South Africa will face the beating boys of the group Zimbabwe, who are winless so far as every team managed to take points off them.
Bafana Bafana’s need to secure three points was intesified on Monday as Benin moved to the top of the group with a shock 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Abidjan topping the group with seven points after four matches, while Nigeria remain winless after four outings with three draws and one defeat. Rwanda and Lesotho will also be in action on Tuesday night, a win for the Crocodiles of Lesotho will see them leapfrog Benin and go top of the group with eight points, Rwanda can go level with the Cheetahs if they manage to snatch three points from Lesotho at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Hugo Broos has targetted a minimum of four points for South Africa’s two qualifiers in this camp, and with the boys still on track the Belgian mentor has emphasized the importance of getting all three points against Zimbabwe.
“I said already last week in the press conference that I should be happy with 4 or 6 (points) so it’s still possible, therefore we have to win tomorrow,” said Broos. “It will not be easy, Zimbabwe lost 2-0 against Lesotho but the first goal was not a chance it was a mistake of the goalkeeper, the second was a nice goal and they had a third chance and that was all. The rest it was Zimbabwe who was the better team, and it’s a tough team it’s always difficult for South Africa to play against Zimbabwe so it will not be different tomorrow. It’s a tough group you see everyone can win against everyone and if you can make a plan I think if you win all your games at home you will be very close. ” Broos concluded.
