JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 23: Helman Mkhelele (assistand coach) and Hugo Broos (coach) of Bafana Bafana during the South Africa mens national soccer team training session at Orlando Stadium on March 23, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament will get a big test when they play against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in an international friendly on Tuesday evening.
International Friendly
Teams: Ivory Coast v South Africa
Date: 17 October 2023
Venue: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny
Time: 21h00
Bafana did not have the result and the performance they were looking for in their previous friendly last Friday, as they were expected to boost their confidence with a big win against lowly-ranked Eswatini but they were held to a goalless draw.
However, South Africa retained their unbeaten run under head coach Hugo Broos since June last year, a 2-1 loss to Morocco, which was their only defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and in a series of friendlies to date.
Cote d’Ivoire, on the other hand, played a much more competitive friendly against Morocco on Saturday, where the two sides played to a 1-1 draw.
Sebastien Haller broke the deadlock for the Elephants on the stroke of half-time but Ayoub El Kaabi salvaged a draw for the Atlas Lions with the equaliser nine minutes before time.
Ivory Coast finished second in their AFCON qualifying group, despite being hosts, although equal on points with group winners Zambia.
The last time the sides clashed was in the 2019 AFCON tournament in the group stages, where the Elephants edged Bafana 1-0 in their opening game.
Bafana had previously beaten Ivory Coast 2-0 in a friendly international back in 2014.
Here’s how they line up:
Ivory Coast: Yahia Fofana, Ndicka, Diomande, Konan, Singo, Kessie, Sangare, Seko Fofana, Bamba, Zaha, Haller
Subs: Folly, Sangare, Kossonou, Sylla, Boly, Konate, Seri, Kouame, Krasso, Adingra, Diakite, Traore
Bafana Bafana: Williams, Mudau, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba, Sithole, Mokoena, Zwane, Mayambela, Hlongwane, Mothiba
Subs: Goss, Mothwa, Mobbie, Sibisi, Blom, Mayo, Foster, Kekana, Mthethwa, Mdantsane, Mako
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