BAFANA Bafana have impressed Kaizer Chiefs boss Kaizer Motaung with their courageous effort to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Motaung said the team's goalless draw against Sierra Leone in Freetown on October 9 was a clear indication of their intention to finish on top of the group.

Bafana lead Group G with four points, followed by Niger who caused a major upset by beating the Pharaohs of Egypt in their last match. Niger have three points, followed by Sierra Leone on two and Egypt are at the foot of the table with one point.

"Our national team deserves to be praised for overcoming all challenges during their Africa Cup of Nations excursion in Sierra Leone," Motaung said.

"Their travel schedule indicated a tedious sojourn of stoppages and transfers to different modes of transport and all these factors could have impacted on the outcome.

"They however managed all challenges and went on to salvage a crucial point in the build-up stages of the lucrative African spectacle," he said.

He said Bafana must remain in pole position to prove to all and sundry that they were well on track to conquer Africa.

"I hope we stay in pole position until we qualify so that we may not be dismissed as mediocre or simply lacking in desire to conquer the African continent."

Bafana captain Aaron "Mbazo" Mokoena said they were determined to remain on top of the log until their last qualifying match.

"So far so good for us and we appreciate the support we are getting from all South Africans," Mokoena said.

"The most important thing is for us to treat all the matches equally. The next match against Egypt in March will be one of the toughest for us. Egypt are aware that if they lose that one their chances will be all over. We cannot afford to miss the Afcon finals this time round after failing to go to Angola."