AFTER playing to a goalless draw with Nigeria in an international friendly in Portugal on Wednesday night, Cape Verde arrive in South Africa today.
Cape Verde will make their debut in the Africa Cup of Nations finals when they play Bafana Bafana in the opening match at the National Stadium next week Saturday.
Also in Group A are Angola and Morocco who meet in the second game at the same stadium at 9pm.
South African coach Farouk Khan, who watched the Cape Verde-Nigeria game, is confident the hosts will do well in the opening match.
"Watched Cape Verde against Nigeria, both teams looked average and I believe we (Bafana Bafana) have the beating of them," Khan wrote on his Twitter page.
Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has urged all South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana and the entire Afcon tournament.
"We may have not scored against Norway, but we remain confident Bafana Bafana will make us proud and emulate the Class of 1996 who won the Afcon on home soil," he said.
Ivory Coast, whose star-studded team includes Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday along with Ghana.
Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo arrive next Friday.
Cape Verde arrive in South Africa
AFTER playing to a goalless draw with Nigeria in an international friendly in Portugal on Wednesday night, Cape Verde arrive in South Africa today.
Cape Verde will make their debut in the Africa Cup of Nations finals when they play Bafana Bafana in the opening match at the National Stadium next week Saturday.
Also in Group A are Angola and Morocco who meet in the second game at the same stadium at 9pm.
South African coach Farouk Khan, who watched the Cape Verde-Nigeria game, is confident the hosts will do well in the opening match.
"Watched Cape Verde against Nigeria, both teams looked average and I believe we (Bafana Bafana) have the beating of them," Khan wrote on his Twitter page.
Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has urged all South Africans to rally behind Bafana Bafana and the entire Afcon tournament.
"We may have not scored against Norway, but we remain confident Bafana Bafana will make us proud and emulate the Class of 1996 who won the Afcon on home soil," he said.
Ivory Coast, whose star-studded team includes Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday along with Ghana.
Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo arrive next Friday.