FORMER South Africa national team striker Siyabonga “Bhele” Nomvethe says Bafana Bafana have nothing to fear and nothing to defend against Libya.
“Go all out and attack,” that’s what the 41-year-old AmaZulu player told Bafana, who are currently in Tunis, Tunisia ahead of their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) against Libya on Sunday (6pm SA time).
“They cannot hold back but just go for it.”
Bafana have no choice but to avoid defeat at all costs against the The Mediterranean Knights to qualify for the Afcon, scheduled for Egypt on 21 June to 19 July.
In fact, coach Stuart Baxter must be out for victory to allay fears, and to calm his nerves after he made a declaration that defeat would mean he quits his plum job too.
In all honesty, like British singer Dido has composed a song titled Everything to Lose. This is what is at stake on Sunday.
Nomvethe said: “All Bafana players must be aware of is that this is an important match for South Africa in all facets.
“This is not the first game of the qualifiers. This is a match they have to give it their all so that Bafana can qualify.
“This game is a do-or-die for us. I know that we are playing away but at least they have to get the point, then we’ll know that we have qualified. In this game, you’re not playing for your club, but you are playing for your country. These Bafana players tend to forget that playing in the Afcon is the highest level of football in our continent.
“It is the biggest stage where top agents and scouts from Europe are scouting for players. Qualifying for Afcon may also be good for their careers.”
Baxter’s men are gunning to join Nigeria as one of the top two winners of Group E to secure their place and book a ticket to Egypt. The Super Eagles booked their place after topping the group following their goalless draw with Bafana at FNB Stadium in November last year.
The venue where Bafana will face the Mediterranean Knicks at Stade Taieb El Mhiri Stadium has good memories for Nomvethe. He scored twice in the Afcon against Benin, which was held in Tunisia on 27 January 2004. Unfortunately, the team which was coached by the late Styles Phumo, finished third in Group D with four points after losing 4-0 to Nigeria and drawing 1-1 with losing finalist Morocco in the last match of the group.
In the first leg in Durban in September last year, Libya proved to be a tough opposition and had it not been for the heroics of injured goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in goals, Baxter’s boys wouldn’t have been lucky to get a goalless draw at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Bafana started well in these Afcon qualifiers, beating Nigeria in June 2017. This was Baxter’s first game in charge.
It was the first time in a competitive match that Bafana managed to put one over the powerful side from West Africa.
Bafana then thrashed Seychelles 6-0 on 13 October in the third match.
It was a record win for Bafana in any qualifiers since they were readmitted by Fifa in 1992.
They then fluffed it up when they went to face the very same opposition three days later at Linite Stadium, only coming back with a 0-0 draw.
