Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is looking forward to next year’s final African Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya where he has backed his team to secure qualification.
Bafana could have secured a place at the continental showpiece over the weekend with a win over rivals Nigeria but were held to a 1-1 draw which saw the Super Eagles qualify while Bafana will now need at least a point away from home against Libya in the final qualifying game next year if they are to compete.
Libya, who will play out of either Egypt or Tunisia due to the war-torn nature of the country, sit two points behind South Africa in Group E.
Bafana have faltered in similar situation in recent years, which prompted questions about their mentality.
Baxter was thus asked after Saturday’s game how the team is supposed to deal with the pressures of such an important game.
‘Same as when we went to Nigeria and got a victory‚’ was his confident response.
‘I think you’ve got to have a clear cut plan and be brave to go out and do the job.
‘I think the players have shown in every other game above the Seychelles game away which was on an anomaly pitch.
‘You need to score on that pitch (in Seychelles) or otherwise it ends up like we had it. And we didn’t score that goal to bring them out.
‘They stuck at it and just kept kicking the ball everywhere and went down injured and the referee didn’t help us.’
‘I have to say that it’s a shame that we can’t talk about do we think we’re going to win that game against Libya based on the fact that I thought the boys played some excellent football (on Saturday)‚’ Baxter added.
‘We are refining‚ I think.
‘What I think we are good at and if we keep on doing that then I don’t think there’s any reason we shouldn’t be looking forward to the game (against Libya).
‘It will be like a knife of throat job but that’s the game that you want to play.
‘We are well aware of the minefield that we are going to if we go to Libya but I hope we deal with that. I’m certainly looking forward to it.’
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
