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Cape Town - South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba has told his team to pack for
the long haul as he targets nothing less than title glory at the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations.
Bafana Bafana will undergo their final preparations when they face Mali in Gabon on Wednesday afternoon, before jetting off to Equatorial Guinea for this year's continental showpiece.
And Mashaba says the national team are only planning on returning home after the AFCON final on February 8, with the coach hoping to emulate the country's 1996 success, where they lifted the African crown on home soil.
"We are coming back after the 10th [of February] after the final is played. We have packed our bags expecting for a long stay there," said Mashaba.
"In 1996 we set the standard that we are championship material. With this team we are trying to revive that spirit and show that we are one of the best."
Bafana face a tough task in making it out of the group stages, let alone winning the whole tournament, with the side drawn in the 'group of death', which includes Africa's number-one ranked team Algeria, as well as Ghana and Senegal.
Mashaba, though, is only encouraged by their opponents' perceived billing as favourites over Bafana, adding: "All the teams are equal. When they say the group of death it gives us motivation. It will be good to beat the No 1 team on the continent.
"I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior. The boys are ready. The players know why they are here and they know what it means to wear the Bafana jersey."
Bafana Bafana will undergo their final preparations when they face Mali in Gabon on Wednesday afternoon, before jetting off to Equatorial Guinea for this year's continental showpiece.
And Mashaba says the national team are only planning on returning home after the AFCON final on February 8, with the coach hoping to emulate the country's 1996 success, where they lifted the African crown on home soil.
"We are coming back after the 10th [of February] after the final is played. We have packed our bags expecting for a long stay there," said Mashaba.
"In 1996 we set the standard that we are championship material. With this team we are trying to revive that spirit and show that we are one of the best."
Bafana face a tough task in making it out of the group stages, let alone winning the whole tournament, with the side drawn in the 'group of death', which includes Africa's number-one ranked team Algeria, as well as Ghana and Senegal.
Mashaba, though, is only encouraged by their opponents' perceived billing as favourites over Bafana, adding: "All the teams are equal. When they say the group of death it gives us motivation. It will be good to beat the No 1 team on the continent.
"I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior. The boys are ready. The players know why they are here and they know what it means to wear the Bafana jersey."
