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A Neighborly Affair

The stage is set for an all-southern African encounter between the Bafana Bafana of South Africa and the Palancas Negras of Angola.

The Angolans, who are making their fourth appearance at the continental championship, have never passed the group stages of the competition before. In truth, they have really never been a force to reckon with in African football up until two years ago when they stopped favorites Nigeria from making it to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Since then, however, the team has witnessed a rapid growth in their game, and the Angolans have been able to develop a brand of football that has become unique to them.

The South Africans on the other hand stormed the continental stage in quite some blistering fashion, clinching their first Nations Cup on home soil just a few years after being recalled to the continents soccer scene. But they have witnessed a slide in fortune since that 1996 victory; a gradual but obvious decline in their performances at subsequent tournaments has seen them go from hero to zero status.

At the 1998 edition they won the silver, and they followed that with a bronze medal at the 2000 edition. But afterwards, a quarter-final exit at the 2002 edition and failure to make it past the group stages ever since tells its own story. In a bid to stop this trend, they have however employed the services of Brazilian-born tactician Carlos Alberto Perreira, but things still haven’t really looked up for the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Group outsiders?

Today’s encounter will be between familiar foes that play a totally different brand of football. While the Angolan have adapted a style of play somewhat similar to that obtained in West African countries, the South Africans rather go for flair and pace.

With both teams knowing they are least in with a good chance to emerge from the group considering the strength of their other Group D members (Tunisia and Senegal), they both will want to go for all three points at stake paving way for an entertaining evening of football.

TEAM NEWS

South Africa

First-choice goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez has been ruled out of this clash after the Armenia Bielefeld shot stopper picked up an injury in training for the team’s last friendly match against Botswana.

He will be replaced by Bidvest Wits goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs. Moeneebs temperament is the only snag to his game, and that could count for something if the game gets heated up.

Captain Aaron Mokoena should expectedly marshal the defence alongside Greece-based Nasief Morris. Mokoena is usually played as a defensive midfielder at his English club Blackburn; how he adapts to his centre-back position will determine how the South African Defence line will hold.

South Africans would also be hoping that Everton FC’s midfielder Steven Pienaar would bring to the team his impressive recent club form. He will be expected to handle the right side of the midfield, supplying passes and crosses to the attack line.

Sibusiso Zuma will no doubt be the arrowhead of a South African side that has labored to find the goals in recent months. The player is sure to get in the starting line up, but who will his strike partner be? The options are from a wholly South Africa based cast of Ajax Cape Town striker, Thembinkosi Fanteni, Orlando Pirates Excellent Walaza, Lerato Chambangu of Mamelodi Sundowns and Katlego Mphela of Supersports United.

Carlos Alberto Perreira will fancy the traditional 4-4-2 formation with his wide midfielders running the wings.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Moeneeb Josephs (Bidvest Wits), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders: Vuyo Mere (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos), Tsepo Masilela (Macabbi Haifa), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Benson Mhlongo (Mamelodi Sundowns), Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town)

Midfielders: Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns),Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)

Attackers: Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld), Lerato Chabangu (Mamelodi Sundowns), Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Katlego Mphela (SuperSport United), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town).

Angola

The Angolans will be starting with most of the players that were present at the last World Cup held in Germany. The only absentees will be flamboyant forward Fabrice Akwa and the goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, due to retirement .

Though the team is still striving to get a goalkeeper to conveniently fit into the empty shoes of Ricardo, Petro Athletico’s stopper Lama should confidently start for the Angolans in Goal.

Leeds United defender Rui Marques, who was guilty of some faulty defending in the team’s pre-tournament friendly match against the Pharaohs of Egypt, should be in the heart of the back line, alongside Primeiro Augusto stopper Loco.

Figueiredo is expected to hold the midfield for the Palancas Negras alongside Mendonca, Al Ahli’s Gilberto and Andre Makanga.

Al Ahli’s prolific forward Flavio Amando and Manchester United new signing Manucho should lead a fierce attack for the Angolans. We could possibly see Primeiro Agosto striker Love or Mateus who plays for Boavista later in the encounter.

Squad

Lama (Petro Atletico), Mario (InterClube), Nuno (AS Aviacao), Marco Airosa (Fatima), Delgado (Metz), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (FC Sion), Loco (Primeiro Agosto), Machado (Anadia), Rui Marques (Leeds United), Yamba Asha (Petro Atletico), Andre (Kuwait SC), Dede, Edson (both Pacos Ferreira), Figueiredo (Osters), Gilberto (Al Ahly), Maurito (Kuwait SC), Mendonca (Estrela Amadora), Ze Kalanga (Boavista), Flavio (Al Ahly), Love (Primeiro Agosto), Manucho (Petro Atletico), Mateus (Boavista)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa - Teko Modise: Orlando Pirates' attacking midfielder Modise has been a delight to watch in the South African PSL this season - he has shown that he is capable of changing a game with one flash of brilliance. He will undoubtedly be the most influential South African on the field of play today.

Angola - Manucho: A recent Manchester United signing, Manucho was until his move to England the hottest striking property in the domestic Angolan league. He remains with Petro Atletico for now while his work permit is sorted; a fine performance here will see his stock rise further.

PREDICTION

The game is going to be a pacey affair, with both teams attempting to get the early goal that sets them in control of the encounter. But considering the largely inexperienced attack line of the South Africans, we could be seeing several scuffed chances on their part. What happens also depends coach Oliveira Goncalves has been able to rectify his Angolan team’s defensive flaws. The Palancas Negras are sure to get a couple of goals in this game, but how their back line holds is another matter.

I will give the game to the Angolans because of the extra grit they have in their team, plus they seem the likelier team to last longer in the humid conditions in Tamale.

South Africa 1:3 Angola


source:goal.com