African Cup of Nations Preview: South Africa

There’s just one day (less than that even) until the African Cup of Nations kicks off. With 15 previews behind us we’re now ready to meet our final Ghana 2008 competitors: South Africa.

The World Cup 2010 hosts have left some experienced players out, probably to blood some youngsters. They boast the first World Cup winning coach to compete in the African Cup of Nations and a creative midfielder with some interesting dance moves. Come on in and meet South Africa.

Nickname: Bafana Bafana (The Boys The Boys)

Kits: Yellow (or is it gold?) shirt, green shorts, yellow (gold?) socks (home.) All white (away.)

Geography: “South Africa lies at the southernmost part of the African continent. It is bordered to the north by Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the northeast by Mozambique and Swaziland and to the northwest by Namibia. On the east coastline lies the Indian Ocean, the Southern coastline the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic Ocean on the western side. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.” – The Africa Guide

History: Considered one of the strongest teams on the continent in the ’90s, and won the African Cup of Nations in 1996. But those days are gone and South Africa failed to pick up a point or score a goal at the 2006 African Cup of Nations, and only made it to this year’s tournament as one of the three best runners-up after finishing behind Zamboa in qualification.

Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira coached his native Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, and will be the first World Cup winning coach to compete at the African Cup of Nations.

FIFA World Ranking (December 2007): 77 (dropped to 78 in January 2008)

Expectations: Parreira’s brief is to forge a successful South Africa team in time for hosting World Cup 2010. The exclusion of senior players like Benni McCarthy suggests that success at Ghana 2008 probably comes second to Parreira’s ongoing preparations for the even bigger show in two and a bit years time.

Pros: Aaron Mokoena (pictured) of Blackburn Rovers is the captain and will lead either from central defence or from a central defensive midfield role. Either way he’s going to win plenty of ball. Fellow defender Nasief Morris plays for Panathinaikos in Greece and should command some respect.

In midfield 22 year old Lance Davids of Djurgardens IF can play as a right winger or a defender or even (I think) as a defensive midfielder. This tournament is ideal for a guys like him to shine. Teko Modise of Orlando Pirates is an exciting right winger with plenty of tricks up his sleeve who has been influential in recent games. But fellow attacking mid/winger Steven Pienaar, currently on loan is the pick of the bunch. More on him below.

Cons: Parreira has been reluctant to fully explain the exclusion of senior players like Benni McCarthy (easily Bafana Bafana’s best striker), Macbeth Sibya and Delron Buckley (both midfielders.) The assumption is that he’s blooding youngster for 2010. This may pay dividends in the long run but won’t do much for South Africa’s chances this month.

McCarthy’s absence mean the team relying on Sibusiso Zuma (of Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld) as the only other experienced striker. It’s any one of domestic based youngsters Lerato Chabangu, Katlego Mphela, Thembinkosi Fanteni and (the brilliantly named) Excellent Walaza to partner Zuma.

One other concern is the lack of defensive quality beyond Mokoeana and Morris. If Parreira decides to deploy Mokoena in midfield then that means someone big Benson Mhlongo filling in, whose almost total lack of pace will present a problem.

Just to make things extra interesting, first choice keeper Rowen Fernandez picked up and injury in a recent friendly and looks doubtful for the South Africa’s opener against Angola. Apparently his finger was dislocated and the medical staff had to push it back into place. Ouch.

Player to Watch: Has to be Steven Pienaar. There was a bit of palava over his late arrival, but that can be seen as evidence of Everton’s determination to hold on to the player for as long as possible. The 25 year old is an exciting creative midfielder who impressed as a young man at Ajax before suffering a knee injury. Upon recovery he was transferred to Borussia Dortmund to replace Arsenal-bound Tomas Rosicky, but then left to join Everton on loan for the current season. Playing wide right or centrally, Pienaar has made himself a regular in the Premier League recently and has impressed everyone with some clever creative play. He also enjoys some wacky goal celebrations.

Team Blog? Yes. Naeem and Andreas will be following Bafana Bafana on the South Africa blog.

Fixtures: In Group D with Angola, Tunisia, Senegal
South Africa vs Angola (Tamale,January 23rd, 19:30)
South Africa vs Tunisia (Tamale, January 27th, 19:30)
South Africa vs Senegal (Kumasi, January 31st, 17:00)

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez – Arminia Bielefeld (GER), Moeneeb Josephs – Bidvest Wits, Itumeleng Khune – Kaizer Chiefs

Defenders: Vuyo Mere – Mamelodi Sundowns, Bryce Moon – Ajax Cape Town, Aaron Mokoena – Blackburn Rovers (ENG), Nasief Morris – Panathinaikos (GRE), Tsepo Masilela – Macabbi Haifa (ISR), Bevan Fransman – Moroka Swallows, Benson Mhlongo – Mamelodi Sundowns, Brett Evans – Ajax Cape Town

Midfielders: Kagiso Dikgacoi – Golden Arrows, Lance Davids – Djurgardens (SWE), Surprise Moriri – Mamelodi Sundowns, Teko Modise – Orlando Pirates, Steven Pienaar – Everton (ENG), Elrio van Heerden – Club Brugge (BEL), Siphiwe Tshabalala – Kaizer Chiefs

Forwards: Sibusiso Zuma – Arminia Bielefeld (GER), Lerato Chabangu – Mamelodi Sundowns, Excellent Walaza – Orlando Pirates, Katlego Mphela – SuperSport United, Thembinkosi Fanteni – Ajax Cape Town

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