Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos did not mince his words on what South Africa need to do to progress from the AFCON group stage after suffering a defeat in his side's first match.
The national team have left themselves with a mountain to climb ahead of matchday two of the Africa Cup of Nations, currently underway in Ivory Coast. Bafana were handed a 2-0 defeat by Maili thanks to goals from Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoki.
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Next up for the 1996 African champions, is neighbours Namibia, who sit second in Group E after winning their opening match courtesy of Orlando Pirates star man Deon Hotto.
Broos has admitted that the encounter is now a must-win for Bafana to avoid a 'difficult' situation.
"Now we play Namibia, we have to win that game (because) if we draw, it will be difficult to go into the knockout stages," Broos told journalists during his post-match press conference.
"We can win that game. And I will tell the boys to 'go just like you played today' and I am sure we can win the game against Namibia."
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A win for Namibia takes them up to six points and almost guarantees progression to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, South Africa sit at the bottom of the table and need a win or at least a draw on Sunday against Namibia to keep any hopes of progression alive.
A day before that match, Mali will take on Tunisia on Saturday and the results may prove crucial to South Africa's ambitions for the next stage of the continental competition.
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