Bafana B Team Aims To Repeat 2021 COSAFA Cup Glory
Helman Mkhalele’s young Bafana Bafana side opens their COSAFA Cup campaign against Mozambique on Wednesday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (18:00).
They’ll be looking to recapture the magic of 2021, when they won the tournament in the same city without conceding a single goal.
Mkhalele emphasizes the importance of a strong start: “We need maximum concentration and to take the game to Mozambique. We have to create as many goal-scoring opportunities as possible and convert them. And defensively, we have to make sure that we don’t concede in the first few minutes because that would work against us. So, a positive early start would be our priority and making sure that each and every chance that we get, we make use of it because that will also help us to settle down very well.”
Historically, Bafana Bafana B has had mixed results in opening COSAFA Cup matches. They drew 1-1 with Namibia in 2023, lost on penalties to Mozambique in 2022, and won 1-0 against Botswana in their triumphant 2021 campaign under coach Morena Ramoreboli as Mkhalele was barred by COSAFA due to the coaching qualifications.
Mkhalele, a 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Bafana Bafana, acknowledges the challenge Mozambique presents: “We are aware of the challenge, but looking at the players we have and the work that we have done in the last couple of days, I believe we are standing a good chance of doing well, even though it’s not going to be easy.”