Bafana complete preparations for Mali test

Bafana Bafana have completed preparations for the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Mali.

The two nations will lock horns on Sunday, 13 October 2019 at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth.

Kickoff is at 15h00.

This will be the first time the West Africans make an appearance in the annual competition – but this will be the fifth meeting between the two countries.

Mali has won two of the previous four games, with Bafana Bafana triumphant in one, and the other match drawn.

The last clash was two years ago (14 January 2015) in an international friendly match ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea, with South Africa emerging 3-0 winners, courtesy of goals from Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Dean Furman.

Hlatshwayo and Furman, alongside Erick Mathoho, are the only three survivors from that fixture that took place in Libreville, Gabon.

Bafana Bafana has been beset with an assortment of injuries since the start of camp on Sunday, 6 October but the situation has since improved, with only striker Lebo Mothiba the only doubtful player after failing to complete the last three training sessions due to a niggling groin strain.

“It has been a great camp, despite all the injuries that befell us but we managed to get through it all. I must thank the medical team for working tirelessly to make sure we have a team that will compete against a strong Mali side, which I believe will give us a very good game,” said Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki.

“This is an important match for all of us as we are preparing for a huge assignement against Ghana and Sudan in the AFCON 2021 qualifiers – but most importantly it is in honour of Nelson Mandela and also for the children’s hospital. We also have to play our role and help those less fortunate that us – more so because most of us in the national team are fathers.”

Tickets are on sale for R40 for adults and R20 for children under 12 years and can be purchased at Computicket, Checkers, and Shoprite.

SAFA will donate R1,5 million towards the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund as children were the closest thing to Madiba.