With Bafana Bafana set for an epic clash against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, here are five top stars Hugo Broos' side need to watch out for!
Following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Eswatini on Friday, South Africa are now in the Ivory Coast for a friendly against the hosts of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan tomorrow night.
The home side is currently ranked ninth in Africa, while Bafana are positioned only four spots below them in 13th, according to FIFA. However, their ranking could prove deceptive as the Ivorians boast an arsenal of attackers who ply their trade in some of Europe's biggest league.
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One of the Elephants' biggest threats is Galatasaray star Wilfried Zaha, who played a starring role his new club's historic 3-2 win over his former team Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League earlier this month. Capped 31 times by his country, the 30-year-old is expected to have fresh legs for the game on Tuesday night as he was only brought on midway through the second half of the Ivory Coast's clash against Morocco on Saturday, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Although he has endured a slow start to the 2023/24 season due to an injury, Zaha has registered three goal involvements in just seven games in the Turkish Super Lig and Champions League, having started in only three of those matches. Given his dangerous offensive instincts and fancy footwork, the winger will likely be a handful for South Africa's fullbacks.
Borussia Dortmund talisman Sebastien Haller is arguably the biggest danger to Broos' men, with the tall striker having scored in their draw with Morocco. The centre-forward has been in sublime form in recent seasons, earning himself a 13th-place finish for the 2022 Ballon d'Or award and a debut nomination for the 2022 CAF Men's African Footballer of the Year prize. Last year, the player was sidelined for six months as he underwent treatment for testicular cancer. Upon his return to football in January this year, the France-born star had a big impact on his team, registering nine goals and five assists in 19 Bundesliga games to help Dortmund to a second-place finish in the 2022/23 German topflight, frustratingly missing out on the league title on the final day of the campaign. This season, he has found the back of the net twice for BVB, while he also has three goal contributions in his past four games for the national team. He is expected to be a focal point for the Ivorians as he often roams in the opposition box posing an aerial threat to centre-backs and goalkeepers.
Brighton Hove Albion youngster Simon Adingra is one of the continent's breakout stars in Europe this season, with the 21-year-old having already racked up nine appearances for the English outfit. The left-winger was signed by the Seagulls in July 2022 from Danish side Nordsjaelland, but was immediately loaned out to Belgian team Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – the same team Percy Tau was loaned to when he signed for Brighton. He now has a growing role in Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton squad, and scored during their 2-2 draw with Liverpool earlier this month. Adingra threatens with his pace on the flanks and the burgeoning talent only won his first cap for the Elephants in June against Zambia. He has since made three appearances for Ivory Coast, including a second-half cameo in their recent clash against Morocco.
Another challenge Bafana will have to contend with is the midfield duo of Seko Fofana and Franck Kessie, who have a knack for dictating games from the middle of the park. Both have since left Europe in favour of lucrative switches to the Saudi Pro League, with the former joining Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr from RC Lens in a deal worth €25 million (R495 million) in July, while Kessie left FC Barcelona and joined Pitso Mosimane's former team Al Ahli for a fee of €12.5 million (R247 million) a few weeks later. The pair have since played a combined total of 16 games for the Saudi Public Investment Fund-owned teams, with Kessie finding the back of the net four times in nine league matches following his abrupt departure from Barca after just one season at the Camp Nou.
These five players are anticipated to be the difference-makers against Bafana, who have a superior head-to-head record against the west Africans, having beaten them twice and only lost once, while four games ended in a stalemate.
Kick-off for the match is at 21:00 SA time.
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