Bafana look to build on promising AFCON showing

South Africa will look to build on their promising showing at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) when they face Andorra in a ‘Fifa Series’ international friendly, set for Stade du 19 Mai 1956 in Annaba, Algeria, on the evening of Thursday 21 March.

Kick-off is at 11pm CAT.

South Africa finished third at the 2023 Afcon in Ivory Coast in January and February, with coach Hugo Broos overseeing Bafana Bafana’s best Nations Cup showing in almost a quarter of a century.

The national team’s next major ambition will be securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, with qualification matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe scheduled for early June. The Belgian coach also wants to see Bafana progress up the Fifa Rankings table (they are 58th and 10th in the world and Africa respectively).

“So, a tough team, a team who will wait and try to be dangerous in transition,” noted Broos. “On the other side, you have Algeria [which SA will face on March 26], ranked fifth in the CAF rankings. So, that means you have two different styles, and it is good for our team to play against Andorra, but certainly to play against such a good team like Algeria. They have a new coach, they will have new players also in their selection.

“So, it will be a good test for those new players who are with us to prove themselves. Therefore, those friendly games are important, and you have to get the results if you want to keep your 10th place or maybe progress even further in the CAF rankings.”

Broos initially selected a squad with more of an eye toward youth and freshness compared to the Afcon roster, though injuries have since necessitated the call-ups of veterans Siyanda Xulu and Thabang Monare.

He has also had to deal with the late arrival of Mamelodi Sundowns players such as Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane due to their club team playing in the Nedbank Cup as late as Sunday.

Andorra – known as ‘Tricolours’ for their blue, red and yellow colours – are ranked a lowly 164th and have not won a match since defeating Liechtenstein 2-0 in the Uefa Nations League in September 2022.

They are on a run of five successive losses against Switzerland, Kosovo, Romania, Belarus and Israel in qualification for the 2024 European Championship.

The Tricolours are coached by Jesus Luis ‘Koldo’ Alvarez, who amassed over 70 caps as a goalkeeper for the Andorra national team in the late 1990s and 2000s. The 53-year-old has been in charge since 2010, and at over 14 years this is the 12th longest managerial reign in international football history (top of the list is Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile, who had a reign of 18 years, 10 months and two days) and the longest of any current national team manager.

This will be a first ever match for Andorra outside of Europe, and their players to watch include veteran goalkeeper Josep Gomes, as well as forwards Albert Rosas and Ricard Fernandez.

In head-to-head stats, this will be the first meeting between Andorra and South Africa.