IT IS WIN or bust for Bafana Bafana at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit tomorrow night.
And on paper the South Africans look firm favourites to brush aside minnows Niger, but it would be foolhardy of Pitso Mosimane and his charges to underestimate their 145th-ranked opponents.
This will be the beginning of Bafana's qualifiers for the 2012 Afcon to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Pitso "Jingles" Mosimane's charges should also be warned to guard against complacency as they return to the venue where they thrashed Thailand 4-0 in an international friendly in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup.
Mosimane, who started his job at Bafana with a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana last month, says it will be crucial for them to win tomorrow.
Mosimane, though, is right to warn his charges to guard against complacency.
"Many people are saying Niger is a small team, but we will treat them with respect on Saturday," he said.
Bafana are expected to go for the jugular in the 2012 qualifiers to ensure they book a ticket to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to erase bad memories of failing to make it to the 2010 showpiece in Ghana.
It was the first time Bafana twiddled their thumbs - while their counterparts from the continent took part in the continental competition - since South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.
Now, with the pain of missing out on this year's edition still raw, Mosimane and his men will want to send out a clear message to the rest of the continent that Bafana are back and out to reclaim their place as one of the superpowers of African football.
There is no doubt that a good performance will win Mosimane many fans.
Katlego "Killer" Mphela, whose strike sank Ghana last month, remains the country's hope tomorrow. Niger will certainly put up a fight and Bafana will have to be alert at all times.
Their star striker, Moussa Maazou, who plays for French club Girondins Bordeaux, will pose a serious threat for the hosts' defence, led by Aaron "Mbazo" Mokoena.
But Bafana should win this encounter comprehensively.
Kickoff is at 8.30pm.
Pitso wary of Niger
IT IS WIN or bust for Bafana Bafana at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit tomorrow night.
And on paper the South Africans look firm favourites to brush aside minnows Niger, but it would be foolhardy of Pitso Mosimane and his charges to underestimate their 145th-ranked opponents.
This will be the beginning of Bafana's qualifiers for the 2012 Afcon to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Pitso "Jingles" Mosimane's charges should also be warned to guard against complacency as they return to the venue where they thrashed Thailand 4-0 in an international friendly in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup.
Mosimane, who started his job at Bafana with a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana last month, says it will be crucial for them to win tomorrow.
Mosimane, though, is right to warn his charges to guard against complacency.
"Many people are saying Niger is a small team, but we will treat them with respect on Saturday," he said.
Bafana are expected to go for the jugular in the 2012 qualifiers to ensure they book a ticket to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to erase bad memories of failing to make it to the 2010 showpiece in Ghana.
It was the first time Bafana twiddled their thumbs - while their counterparts from the continent took part in the continental competition - since South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.
Now, with the pain of missing out on this year's edition still raw, Mosimane and his men will want to send out a clear message to the rest of the continent that Bafana are back and out to reclaim their place as one of the superpowers of African football.
There is no doubt that a good performance will win Mosimane many fans.
Katlego "Killer" Mphela, whose strike sank Ghana last month, remains the country's hope tomorrow. Niger will certainly put up a fight and Bafana will have to be alert at all times.
Their star striker, Moussa Maazou, who plays for French club Girondins Bordeaux, will pose a serious threat for the hosts' defence, led by Aaron "Mbazo" Mokoena.
But Bafana should win this encounter comprehensively.
Kickoff is at 8.30pm.
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