BAFANA Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane is heaping praises on his new striker Davide Somma, saying the challenges of scoring goals will soon be a thing of the past for the team.

Somma impressed Mosimane and many South Africans after making a decent debut in the US's 1-0 victory over Bafana Bafana during the Mandela Challenge on Wednesday.

This was the second time the USA defeated Bafana 1-0 in the same tournament after winning it first at Ellis Park Stadium in 2007. It was also the first defeat for Mosimane after four matches.

The big striker, who has scored seven goals in 14 games for Leeds United in England, was given a standing ovation after being replaced by S'thembiso Ngcobo in the 60th minute.

As if that was not enough, Somma walked away with the man of the match award.

Speaking after the match at Cape Town Stadium, Mosimane said the presence of Somma will intensify competition up front.

"Somma has a future with Bafana Bafana and he is a talented player. He is a predator in the 18 yard area, he is definitely in my future plans. It's good to have more players in that department, especially ahead of our crucial 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in March. We need goals against Egypt."

On the performance of Bafana, who are now ranked 50th by Fifa, Mosimane said: "These things happen in football, there will always be a loser and a winner.

"I can't go through life thinking that I will not lose. Even though we have lost I am proud of what my boys did out there, and we were on top of them for the better part of the match.

"But football is a cruel sport and with just five minutes remaining they found the back of the net. I did not see it coming because we were in control of the game."

Mosimane wants to play in a tournament in Kuwait in the Middle East next month as part of his preparations for the big match against Egypt. He is planning to meet the PSL to ask them to allow him to take some of the players along as the Middle East tournament does not fall under the Fifa calendar.