THERE is no doubt about the daunting nature of Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations finals group, but they do at least go into the tournament safe in the knowledge they have never lost to their three pool opponents at the continental finals.
Top-ranked Algeria, the Black Stars of Ghana and a resurgent Senegal present a mighty challenge for Shakes Mashaba.
But if Mashaba thrives on one thing, it is defying the odds.
And history is on Bafana's side. They have had two previous meetings with Algeria at the Nations Cup - winning a quarterfinal 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy on home soil in 1996.
The teams met again in the pool stages in 2000 when Shaun Bartlett scored as the teams drew 1-1.
South Africa's Nations Cup finals history with Ghana is very similar, the sides met in 1996 and 2000 as well, but also clashed in the 2002 finals.
Bafana famously won their 1996 semifinal against the fancied Black Stars in emphatic fashion as they romped to a 3-0 win.
Siyabonga Nomvethe netted the only goal as Bafana then defeated Ghana 1-0 in the 2000 quarterfinals.
They came up against the Black Stars again two years later, this time in the group stages, and played to a 0-0 draw.
The tournament in Equatorial Guinea next month will be just the second time Bafana play Senegal at the continental showpiece, with the first coming in Ghana in 2008.
Elrio van Heerden netted for Bafana who were pegged back to draw 1-1 and bow out of the competition at the first hurdle.
But Bafana have never beaten Senegal in their five previous meetings.
Bafana's record against 2015 Afcon opponents:
Bafana have nothing to fear
THERE is no doubt about the daunting nature of Bafana Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations finals group, but they do at least go into the tournament safe in the knowledge they have never lost to their three pool opponents at the continental finals.
Top-ranked Algeria, the Black Stars of Ghana and a resurgent Senegal present a mighty challenge for Shakes Mashaba.
But if Mashaba thrives on one thing, it is defying the odds.
And history is on Bafana's side. They have had two previous meetings with Algeria at the Nations Cup - winning a quarterfinal 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy on home soil in 1996.
The teams met again in the pool stages in 2000 when Shaun Bartlett scored as the teams drew 1-1.
South Africa's Nations Cup finals history with Ghana is very similar, the sides met in 1996 and 2000 as well, but also clashed in the 2002 finals.
Bafana famously won their 1996 semifinal against the fancied Black Stars in emphatic fashion as they romped to a 3-0 win.
Siyabonga Nomvethe netted the only goal as Bafana then defeated Ghana 1-0 in the 2000 quarterfinals.
They came up against the Black Stars again two years later, this time in the group stages, and played to a 0-0 draw.
The tournament in Equatorial Guinea next month will be just the second time Bafana play Senegal at the continental showpiece, with the first coming in Ghana in 2008.
Elrio van Heerden netted for Bafana who were pegged back to draw 1-1 and bow out of the competition at the first hurdle.
But Bafana have never beaten Senegal in their five previous meetings.
Bafana's record against 2015 Afcon opponents:
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