Jonty Mark pinpoints the 10 things Bafana Bafana must get right to beat Mali in the Afcon quarter-finals.
1 KEEP THEIR SHAPE
This phrase might sound a little bit clichéd but it has been noticeable that when Bafana have done well in this tournament, the side have clearly held their shape, particularly in a defensive sense, when the opposition have the ball. For 90 minutes against Angola, and in the second half against Morocco, there was a clear difference in the way the team were set up, and interestingly, those are the three halves in which Bafana have scored goals. Once you have your shape defensively, it becomes much easier to spring forward into attack.
2 USE THE HOME SUPPORT AS AN INSPIRATION, NOT A SOURCE OF PERSPIRATION
There is a magic about Durban, a feverish atmosphere again likely at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this evening, hoping to sing Bafana to glory. It cannot be understated how much home advantage can play a role in a side overcoming the odds – in this instance, the 22nd best side in Africa playing the third best. Bafana looked a nervous wreck in the opening match against Cape Verde, but have thrived in Durban, the heart of the side visibly pumped by the supreme support here. Hopefully, the fans and the players will be dancing again tonight.
3 DEFEND SET-PIECES WELL
The height and physical strength of Mali’s players has been much-discussed in the lead-up to this game, and nowhere are they likely to be more of a threat than from set-pieces. Bafana will have to match them physically from corners and free-kicks, while Itumeleng Khune (left) will have to be very careful about when he chooses to come off his line. His one slip so far in that regard came against Morocco and resulted in one of only two goals the side have conceded.
4 DEFEND MUCH BETTER FROM OPEN PLAY
Three times in the last game, a Morocco player found himself clear of the Bafana defence and one-on-one with Itumeleng Khune. The Bafana keeper was quite exceptional, but the fact remains that with better finishing, Bafana could be out of the Africa Cup of Nations. Bafana’s back-four need to be far more solid than they were on that day, though to be fair, they did play fairly well against Angola and Cape Verde.
5 STOP MALI’S POWERHOUSE MIDFIELD
In Seydou Keita, Momo Sissoko, Samba Diakite and Modibo Maiga, Mali have a midfield to make any side in Africa shiver with fear. Diakite’s storming runs in the last match were a permanent threat to DR Congo, while Keita netted the winner against Niger and remains, even at 33, a world class player. Sissoko might be a little past his best but is still a physical force, and Maiga has yet to truly shine but is a particular threat with his late runs into the penalty area. Gordon Igesund might yet decide to play Kagiso Dikgacoi (left) tonight for some extra physical presence to counter the Malian threat.
6 KEEP THE BALL ON THE GROUND
Igesund is well aware that Bafana’s best way through the Malian midfield and defence is to keep the ball on the ground. If they lump it through the air like they did against Cape Verde, they are likely to be on a hiding to nothing. But if they can go at pace along the grass, like they did at times against Morocco, using the quick feet of Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu, Bernard Parker and Thuso Phala, they might just trouble Mali’s giants.
7 GET AT MALI’S FULLBACKS
In a congested midfield area, width is also likely to be key for Bafana this evening. Phala has provided plenty of that down the right and Siboniso Gaxa, a more attacking fullback than the suspended Anele Ngcongca, can also help him out in getting at Mali left-back Adama Tamboura. Without a true winger on the left, with Siphiwe Tshabalala likely to be benched again, Bafana could also move Phala to the left to have a go at Mali’s slightly slower right-back Fousseni Diawara.
8 TEST MALI’S GOALKEEPER
With their No1 goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa suspended, Soumbeila Diakite will be making his tournament debut for Mali tonight. Diakite is actually the most experienced goalkeeper in the Mali squad, but is bound to have some nerves at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, whatever coach Patrice Charteron says about his penalty-saving abilities. Bafana would do well to test him with some early efforts just to see if the jitters get the better of the new man.
9 KEEP ENCOURAGING SIYABONGA SANGWENI TO GET FORWARD
Bafana’s most prolific finisher at this Nations Cup so far is Siyabonga Sangweni, their central defender. While Sangweni’s main role is clearly to keep out the Mali attack, the fact is that his confidence must be sky-high in and around the opposition penalty area. As sensibly as possible, Sangweni has to be encouraged to keep getting himself into the opposition’s final third to provide assistance to the likes of Lehlohonolo Majoro and Katlego Mphela.
10 FIND THE BEST WAY TO USE THULANI SERERO
Serero is Bafana’s ace in the pack at this Africa Cup of Nations. He isn’t quite up to full match fitness just yet, but showed flashes of brilliance when he came on against Morocco, his movement with and off the ball noticeably more astute than many of his Bafana teammates. There is no doubt that a fully fit Serero should start against Mali, but Igesund must decide if he would rather use his player, as he has been doing, when opposition defenders are starting to tire. The stage is set for a man like Serero to really make his mark on this tournament. Could this be his day?
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