Bafana to kick off 2015 Afcon in group of death

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pretoria - Bafana Bafana was drawn in the “group of death” for next year’s Equatorial Guinea Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). 

During the draw held at Sipopo Convention Centre in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, last night, South Africa was in Group C alongside Ghana, Senegal and Algeria.

In three meetings, Bafana Bafana have won once against Algeria with two draws and have played Ghana on nine occasions, winning five of those clashes.

Against Senegal, South Africa has only managed two draws, losing the rest. Algeria is ranked number one on the continent, while Senegal and Ghana are 4th and 5th respectively. Group C will play their matches in Mongomo.

However, Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, who qualified the team to the continental showpiece without losing a match, said with good planning, they have a good chance to get through the group stages.

“A tough group that we find ourselves in with all four teams coming from different regions, so it needs a lot of spying, planning because all three teams are very good – Ghana, Algeria and Senegal.

“What we can say to South Africans is that even though it is a tough draw, we are going there to compete. We must just plan thoroughly and do our best.”

The tournament will be held from 17 January to 8 February 2015 in four cities namely Bata, Malabo, Mongomo and Ebibeyini.

The host, Equatorial Guinea, is in Group A, along with Burkina Faso, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville) and they will play their group stages in Bata.

Zambia, Tunisia, Cape Verde and DR Congo are in Group B and they will play their group stages in Ebibeyini.

Group D comprises West African national teams including Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon and Guinea. The four teams will be based in Malabo. - SAnews.gov.za