Bafana aim to repeat 2021 triumph

Bafana aim to repeat 2021 triumph

TAB is adding over R1 million to selected soccer pools this weekend and there will be multiple chances to cash in on your soccer knowledge.

By Nick Said

A second-string South Africa  get their COSAFA Cup campaign underway this Wednesday when they take on Namibia in Durban, seeking to regain the regional trophy they won in Gqeberha two years ago.

Stand-in coach Morena Ramoreboli was also in charge then and has had to assemble a squad off the scraps offered to him by clubs in South Africa’s top two divisions. They are in the throes of pre-season and not required to release players to the national team.

The outcome is a mix of young and old with some proven PSL talent alongside players from the development structures of top-flight clubs.

South Africa also have Botswana and Eswatini in their group with only the top team guaranteed a place in the semi-finals along with the best runners-up from across the three pools.  

South Africa are unbeaten against Eswatini (won five) and Botswana (seven wins, four draws) in the competition and have a single loss to Namibia (four wins, a draw and one defeat). Clashes between Bafana Bafana and Botswana are the most played fixture in the COSAFA Cup and they have met every year since 2015.

In the other match to be played on Wednesday, Eswatini will be hoping for their first COSAFA Cup win in a clash with Botswana, having drawn two and lost three of their previous five meetings. They have only scored a single goal in that time.

If past history is anything to go by, Malawi will be the major challengers to defending champions Zambia in Group B. They clash in their pool opener on Thursday and have met on eight previous occasions in the COSAFA Cup. Zambia have four wins to the two victories and two draws of the Flames.

Comoros and Seychelles are the other teams in the pool and are not expected to mount a serious challenge to the top two. Seychelles have won only one of their previous 31 COSAFA Cup games, which was an extraordinary 7-0 success against Mauritius in 2008.

Angola and Mozambique will renew their Lusophone rivalry in Group C which starts on Friday. Honours have been even down the years with a win apiece and a draw. They have not met since a 1-0 win for the Mambas in Kitwe in 2013.

Lesotho and Mauritius are the other teams in the pool and have met on three previous occasions in the regional competition. It has been one-way traffic with the Mountain Kingdom winning all three games and scoring six goals in the process. That includes a 2-1 win last year.

Brazil’s Serie A continues with key games for Flamengo and Palmeiras, who play against each other, and surprise leaders Botafogo, who are away to second-placed Gremio in a top-of-the-table clash.

Major League Soccer in the USA also continues with Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati facing a tough task at Charlotte on Saturday.