BAFANA Bafana have one major injury worry!
Mamelodi Sundowns midfield star Keagan Dolly is a doubtful starter ahead of tomorrow’s meaningless 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Mauritania at Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium (7pm).
Dolly’s hamstring injury follows hot on the heels of the injury to Prince Nxumalo and Rivaldo Coetzee’s withdrawal due to illness.
Dolly, who is also the South African Under-23 skipper, picked up an injury in helping his club defeat SuperSport United 3-1 in last weekend’s MTN8 quarterfinal clash played in Tshwane.
Said Mashaba yesterday: “Apart from Dolly, who faces a fitness test, the other 24 players are fit and ready to play. We have plenty of back-up for Dolly. I’m happy with the progress and training here in Nelspruit this week.”
Mashaba will be using the match against Mauritania and next Tuesday’s Nelson Mandela Challenge against Egypt to prepare for the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Bafana host the Pharaohs at Orlando Stadium in the annual event next Tuesday (7pm).
Mashaba said he was looking forward to both games as it would give him a chance to run the rule over a number of promising players who impressed in the recent Cosafa Cup and Olympic Games. Players such as Abbubaker Mobara, Gift Motupa, Deolin Mekoa and Aubrey Modiba could get some game-time.
Mashaba and his assistant Owen Da Gama, who is also the SA U-23 coach, won the recent Cosafa Cup with the U-23 squad.
Said Mashaba: “I want to give many younger players a chance. But at the same time I do not want to disrupt the momentum of the squad.”
Mauritania caused a huge upset last year when they defeated Bafana 3-1 in the first round but Mashaba said yesterday he was ready for whatever they throw at him. “We can’t qualify for the Afcon finals, so now we look to the future. We need to build for the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
Bafana are in a tough group for the 2018 World Cup to be staged in Russia. They travel to Burkina Faso for their opening Group D qualifier in October. They will also play dangerous Cape Verde and Senegal in what could prove to be a difficult group, with only the winner qualifying for the world showpiece in Russia.
Said Mashaba: “The games against Mauritania and Egypt will help us prepare for the World Cup. After Egypt we will sit down and have a close look at our upcoming opponents.”
