Bafana Bafana will be mal to underestimate a weakened Mali when they clash for the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Port Elizabeth in Sunday’s 3pm kickoff.
South Africa are ranked two positions below the 11th-placed African side, but the Eagles will come into this game without their big names.
Porto ace Moussa Marega, Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, captain Abdoulaye Diaby and Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo are all injured.
But Red Bull Salzburg attacking duo Mohamed Camara and Sekou Koita can cause plenty of problems for Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki in his first game in charge.
And dynamic 21-year-old midfielder Amadou Haidara has been hailed as the successor to Naby Keita at Red Bull Leipzig after the latter moved to Liverpool.
DANGER MAN: Ace Mohamed Camara. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
Bafana’s own Keagan Dolly, meanwhile, feels he has something to prove after missing out on this year’s Afcon to due injury.
And the former Ajax Cape Town man is keen to nail down his spot in the team ahead of next month’s 2021 qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.
PACE TO BURN: Sekou Koita of Mali. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
The Montpellier midfielder says: “I don’t think the desire will go away ever. I’m always willing to play for my country.
“Obviously, it was very disappointing. I had a difficult year where I picked up small injury after small injury.
“To be part of the road to Egypt and then not go there with my teammates was a bit disappointing.
“All I can do is to focus on the next games. I have to keep on working hard to make sure that I’m representing my country.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/BafanaBafana?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BafanaBafanaleft for Port Elizabeth. The squad will train at Wolfson Stadium today at 3pm - their 1st session in the city & is open to the public @SAFA_net @Banyana_Banyana @BafanaBafana @COSAFAMEDIA #RSA #NelsonMandelaChallenge pic.twitter.com/fkVrrf9Ewa
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana)