Bafana Bafana winger Oswin Appolis believes the national team’s recent success has made them a target, with opponents eager to defeat them.

The South African football national senior team will host Lesotho in a FIFA World Cup match qualifier at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday evening.

Speaking ahead of this game, Polokwane City winger Appollis revealed that this game will be not an easy game. “We know it’s going to be a difficult game, Lesotho is a very hard-running team with a lot of fighters,” Appollis said.

“Our preparations went well, so it’s going to be a tough game but as South Africans, we are always ready to put in the work and fight for the team.

“The mood in the camp has been amazing, the boys are ready for Friday and you can see the excitement from the guys for this game. The preparations went well as well, and we are excited for Friday.

“The coach always tells us that everyone wants to beat South Africa, and everyone is very dangerous to us. It won’t be an easy game but as we prepare very well, I think we can get positive results because we’ll put in the hard work.”

Bafana is currently lying in the second spot with seven points after four games in Group C, tied with Rwanda who are at the summit due to head-to-head rule. 

Benin, who is playing Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday (18:00), is third with the same number of points.

Only the group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, while the four best-placed runners-up will have a second chance via the play-offs.