Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole has opened up on his partnership teammate Teboho Mokoena as the national team prepare to take on Morocco in the last 16 of the AFCON.
South Africa progressed past the group stages of the continental competition after finishing second behind Mali, with a win, a defeat and a draw in Group E.
For those three matches, at the heart of midfield has been a successful pair of Sithole and Mokoena, a combination head coach Hugo Broos is likely to stick with against The Atlas Lions on Tuesday night.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash, Sithole shed some light into his partnership with Mokoena and the significance of a victory against the North African side.
"The game we will play tomorrow is big for us, not only for us, but everyone back home, they will be watching this game.
"I think if we can do well, then everyone back at home will also be happy.
"As for my combination with Teboho in the middle, I think it has been working well. I think now we understand each other very well.
"I think if we can keep playing this way, the team is going to go far.
Sithole is one of only two players in the Bafana squad that is based in Europe and admits the change in weather contributed to a slow start as Bafana fell 2-0 against Mali.
"I think in answering your question about the weather, of course it hasn't been easy for me," Sithole added.
"I think for the guys (Bafana players) as well, coming from South Africa to West Africa, it's not the same, the sun is too hot.
"But as a player, you need to adapt in every situation you play in. We did that and we upped out game."
The match against Morocco is scheduled to kick-off at 22:00.