BAFANA Bafana have been warned that anything less than a win on Saturday against Burkina Faso will have dire consequences.
Bafana open their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign away to the Stallions in Ouagadougou (8pm SA time).
That was the message yesterday from SA Football Association CEO Dennis Mumble prior to the squad’s departure to Ouagadougou ahead of their opening 2018 Group D qualifier against Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Mumble warned: “We will not accept anything less than a win from this opening qualifier otherwise heads will roll. It’s crucial we stamp our authority on the group and set the tone from the first game.”
Bafana are in Group D that also includes Senegal and Cape Verde.
Only the five group winners will qualify for Russia in 2018.
Mumble is still angry that Bafana failed to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon in January.
Stated Mumble: “We can’t allow that (Afcon) failure to happen again. Failure is not an option for the 2018 World Cup. It’s crucial for the country that we qualify. The time for patience is over. Patience is for development. This Bafana squad are full of talent and they HAVE to qualify.
“I don’t want to hear any excuses. They have to go to Burkina Faso and win end of story.”
Mumble said that it will not just be head coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba and his technical team who will be sacked should Bafana fail but the players and even Mumble himself will find himself in the firing line.
Mumble stressed: “If I as CEO cannot motivate the squad to qualify for the World Cup in 2018 then I must ask myself what am I doing here and question my role. This is a collective. It won’t just be the coach whose head will roll, players are equally responsible as well as the CEO. The reputation of the country is at stake. We simply can’t fail. Players must also take responsibility.”
Mumble said the expectations were high: “We must go to Burkina Faso and show that this Bafana team mean business and have the hunger to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. We know we have the ability and talent.”
Safa president Danny Jordaan met with the players on Monday night and spelt out what was expected of them in no uncertain terms.
Said Mumble: “We all got the message from the president and now it is up to the squad to go out and start our World Cup campaign on a winning note.”
