Even though there are expectations for Bafana Bafana to do well at the Africa Cup of Nations, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane feels the big mission should be to build for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana missed out on qualifying for the 2018 World Cup which was played in Russia and Mosimane believes the mission should now be to book a spot at the 2022 showpiece, to be hosted by Qatar.
And doing well at AFCON, not necessarily winning it, will be a good start for the team, according to the former senior national team mentor.
"I would not like to put Bafana under pressure. I think Bafana must build a team for the World Cup, for us to be there [AFCON] we have achieved. Let's not put pressure," Mosimane said.
"Doing well at the Cup of Nations is not about winning it, it's about preparing for the World Cup. There's a World Cup coming, you know what I'm trying to say? As much as we want to win, you must also understand the transition period. We want to go to the World Cup. We need to be, at the same time, building the team for the World Cup because sometimes we can put everything to win the Cup of Nations, but we don't give the next generation a chance. It's a bit tricky."