BAFANA Bafana want to wrap up their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification with two matches to spare by beating Congo at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, but coach Shakes Mashaba warned they will face "wounded tigers".
Bafana beat Congo 2-0 in an inspired fighting performance in Pointe Noire on Saturday to snatch the lead in Group A.
SA can go to 10 points with another win against Claude le Roy's side on Wednesday (8.05pm), enough to qualify for Morocco 2015 given the permutations of the Confederation of African Football's head-to-head rule.
"We want to do it. Even if it's 1-0, even if there was a half-nil, I would say let's take it and get the three points," Mashaba said.
"We said the tougher game will be at home because now we beat them and they will come back as wounded tigers.
"And I know a lot of people have been saying they've got a world-class coach. Let me tell you, it's not about coaches. It's about players."
Bafana's impressive organisation pleased Mashaba more than some outstanding individual performances.
SA overwhelmed Congo with second-half goals from Bongani Ndulula and Tokelo Rantie.
"When you play good football without scoring, it counts for nothing. If you score and don't play a good game, at least it counts for three points," Mashaba said.
"If you look here, make no mistake, we are playing good football. It's quite some time I haven't seen our teams playing like this.
"One, they're beaming with confidence. And the combinations we're seeing, there's that element of safety first, which is why we're not so worried about teams attacking us.
"The combination of the team is the thing that makes me feel we're gradually achieving our goals."
For Bafana on Saturday, both wingers, Thulani Serero and Mandla Masango, were on fire. Andile Jali and Dean Furman were again a rock in central midfield.
It was too much for a less tactically disciplined Congo to cope with. "They couldn't handle it," Mashaba said.
Bafana keen to get the job done early
BAFANA Bafana want to wrap up their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification with two matches to spare by beating Congo at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, but coach Shakes Mashaba warned they will face "wounded tigers".
Bafana beat Congo 2-0 in an inspired fighting performance in Pointe Noire on Saturday to snatch the lead in Group A.
SA can go to 10 points with another win against Claude le Roy's side on Wednesday (8.05pm), enough to qualify for Morocco 2015 given the permutations of the Confederation of African Football's head-to-head rule.
"We want to do it. Even if it's 1-0, even if there was a half-nil, I would say let's take it and get the three points," Mashaba said.
"We said the tougher game will be at home because now we beat them and they will come back as wounded tigers.
"And I know a lot of people have been saying they've got a world-class coach. Let me tell you, it's not about coaches. It's about players."
Bafana's impressive organisation pleased Mashaba more than some outstanding individual performances.
SA overwhelmed Congo with second-half goals from Bongani Ndulula and Tokelo Rantie.
"When you play good football without scoring, it counts for nothing. If you score and don't play a good game, at least it counts for three points," Mashaba said.
"If you look here, make no mistake, we are playing good football. It's quite some time I haven't seen our teams playing like this.
"One, they're beaming with confidence. And the combinations we're seeing, there's that element of safety first, which is why we're not so worried about teams attacking us.
"The combination of the team is the thing that makes me feel we're gradually achieving our goals."
For Bafana on Saturday, both wingers, Thulani Serero and Mandla Masango, were on fire. Andile Jali and Dean Furman were again a rock in central midfield.
It was too much for a less tactically disciplined Congo to cope with. "They couldn't handle it," Mashaba said.
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