The striking options are a little less stressful, with very few spots up for grabs and not many having risen their hands to warrant place in the side.
Of course, Percy Tau, having contributed 10 goals and nine assists in 27 starts for Belgian second division side Union Saint-Gilloise this season, is an obvious choice. The 24-year-old has started 16 of Bafana’s last 17 games since his international debut two years ago and has seven goals in the national team shirt. The diminutive forward is a shoo-in to start against Libya, but the question is who will partner him up front?
Baxter has begun to establish a strike partnership between Tau and France-based Lebogang Mothiba, but the latter has struggled for form at his Ligue 1 club Strasbourg since his knee injury sustained at the start of the year. In fact, the 23-year-old has yet to score a league goal since the start of December last year, while a brace in Strasbourg’s Coupe de la Ligue at the end of January failed to spur him on to rediscovering his scoring form. There is no doubt about his ability and potential, however, as he has proven with four goals in six appearances for Bafana.
Depending on the British tactician’s tactical approach to the match, he could look towards Bradley Grobler to provide a physical presence up front and aid in hold-up play for counter-attacks. The SuperSport United striker is no prolific goal scorer and his recent form since returning from injury also doesn’t play in his favour, but the burly forward can get the job done on his day, popping up in the right areas at the right times to either score or set his teammates up to do so.
Dino Ndlovu, meanwhile, has only just started his season in the Chinese League One season with Zhejiang Greentown but got on the scoresheet in their opening clash on Sunday. Bidvest Wits and former Amajita striker Gift Motupa, who has five goals in his last five league appearances and is brimming with confidence, may also bring a different dimension for Bafana.