South Africa go into tomorrow's African Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritania defending a proud record in the preliminaries for the continent's top competition that includes just three defeats in the last 22 years.
Bafana have lost six qualifiers in all, but three of those came in their first ever campaign for the 1994 finals when they went down to Zimbabwe, and twice to Zambia.
Since then their only setbacks have been away in Gabon in 1999, at home to Zambia in 2007 and away in Niger in 2011.
Bafana have played 44 qualification matches in total, winning 20 of those, drawing 18 and suffering those six defeats.
They have out-scored their opponents 56-30.
That is a proud record in matches that have often been against lesser opposition, but in extremely difficult conditions.
SA's biggest victory in Nations Cup qualifiers came in the 4-0 victory over Chad in 2007, while their heaviest defeat came in their very first game when they were humbled by Zimbabwe in that 4-1 loss.
SA have played in the Nations Cup qualifiers on nine previous occasions.
The country failed in their bid to reach the finals in 1994, 2010 and 2012, and qualified as hosts in 1996 and 2013.
Bafana to defend proud run
South Africa go into tomorrow's African Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritania defending a proud record in the preliminaries for the continent's top competition that includes just three defeats in the last 22 years.
Bafana have lost six qualifiers in all, but three of those came in their first ever campaign for the 1994 finals when they went down to Zimbabwe, and twice to Zambia.
Since then their only setbacks have been away in Gabon in 1999, at home to Zambia in 2007 and away in Niger in 2011.
Bafana have played 44 qualification matches in total, winning 20 of those, drawing 18 and suffering those six defeats.
They have out-scored their opponents 56-30.
That is a proud record in matches that have often been against lesser opposition, but in extremely difficult conditions.
SA's biggest victory in Nations Cup qualifiers came in the 4-0 victory over Chad in 2007, while their heaviest defeat came in their very first game when they were humbled by Zimbabwe in that 4-1 loss.
SA have played in the Nations Cup qualifiers on nine previous occasions.
The country failed in their bid to reach the finals in 1994, 2010 and 2012, and qualified as hosts in 1996 and 2013.
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