SOUTH Africa's 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Clive Barker reckons getting something from their opening game against Algeria will be crucial for Bafana Bafana at the 2015 finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Bafana were drawn in the hardest group where, along with the north Africans, they will have to face Ghana and Senegal for a place in the quarterfinals.
"It is so important to get something from the first game. The Springboks showed that when they won the 1995 Rugby World Cup and we did likewise in beating Cameroon 3-0 in 1996," Barker said.
"It just gives you so much momentum going into the other games.
"I think we saw that even when Bafana won 3-0 in Sudan in their first game of the qualification campaign for these finals.
"But it is much easier said than done. Algeria have done really well in the last year or so and have a strong European influence in their football. They are the best of a very good bunch of north African countries."
It won't get easier for Bafana after the Algerians, with Senegal next on January 23.
"You never really know how they will go but on their day can be devastating. Big, powerful and full of skill," Barker said.
SA round out their pool with a game against Ghana four days later.
"On any given day Ghana can beat anybody. We just couldn't have asked for a harder group, to be honest."
But Barker also warned that Bafana would be no pushovers, having found some confidence under Shakes Mashaba in the past few months.
"We have been playing really, really well, the quality of our football has improved and I think that has even been reflected in the standard of the PSL.
"It's going to be really difficult, but you know what, they just have to go out there and do it."
Getting a result in first match is crucial - Barker
SOUTH Africa's 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Clive Barker reckons getting something from their opening game against Algeria will be crucial for Bafana Bafana at the 2015 finals in Equatorial Guinea.
Bafana were drawn in the hardest group where, along with the north Africans, they will have to face Ghana and Senegal for a place in the quarterfinals.
"It is so important to get something from the first game. The Springboks showed that when they won the 1995 Rugby World Cup and we did likewise in beating Cameroon 3-0 in 1996," Barker said.
"It just gives you so much momentum going into the other games.
"I think we saw that even when Bafana won 3-0 in Sudan in their first game of the qualification campaign for these finals.
"But it is much easier said than done. Algeria have done really well in the last year or so and have a strong European influence in their football. They are the best of a very good bunch of north African countries."
It won't get easier for Bafana after the Algerians, with Senegal next on January 23.
"You never really know how they will go but on their day can be devastating. Big, powerful and full of skill," Barker said.
SA round out their pool with a game against Ghana four days later.
"On any given day Ghana can beat anybody. We just couldn't have asked for a harder group, to be honest."
But Barker also warned that Bafana would be no pushovers, having found some confidence under Shakes Mashaba in the past few months.
"We have been playing really, really well, the quality of our football has improved and I think that has even been reflected in the standard of the PSL.
"It's going to be really difficult, but you know what, they just have to go out there and do it."
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