Cape Town - South Africa will face Cote d’Ivoire for the 20th edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, with the match set for Sunday.
Dating back to 1994, the NMC is an annual event which honours the memory of the late former President Nelson Mandela and helps to raise funds and awareness for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. The likes of Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, France, USA and Africa Cup of Nations winners such as Nigeria, Zambia, Cameroon and Egypt have participated in the NMC in the past.
Cote d’Ivoire, also a former AFCON champion, will be competing in the prestigious match for the second time, having drawn 1-1 with Bafana Bafana in the 2011 edition at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
That match was the fifth meeting between South Africa and the mighty Elephants. Bafana boast an unbeaten record in the rivalry, with one win to their name while the other four matches have all ended in draws.
South Africa will be hoping to claim their first win in the NMC since 2009 in what will be coach Shakes Mashaba’s first friendly match since taking charge of the team earlier this year. The veteran coach guided Bafana Bafana to qualification for the 2015 AFCON with an undefeated record and sees the match against the Elephants as both an honour and a great opportunity for the locally-based squad he has selected.
“The Nelson Mandela Challenge fixture is one of the most important events we can venture into as human beings and the national team, and we will tackle it from a two-pronged angle. Firstly, to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund to help those who are less fortunate than us, and we hope that people can come in numbers to aid this good cause,” said Mashaba.
“Secondly, we hope the players that have been selected will see us through in the future. We don’t want to bring people in as a once-off thing. We are giving them an opportunity to come and sell themselves and show us what they are made of. We have gone for players who are on the fringes at their clubs, and are not playing regularly. We can only appreciate if the clubs can help us by releasing the players we need. We are aware that the league is in full swing, and perhaps at a crucial stage for them and we hope they can assist. We really appreciate the support.”
SA v Cote d’Ivoire – previous meetings
30 November, 1994
vs Cote d'Ivoire 0-0
Four Nations Cup
Boet Erasmus stadium, Port Elizabeth
Dismissal: Gbahou 79'
Cautions: Makalakalane 52'; Aka Kouame 54', Gneto 77', Dago 81'
Ref.: Sulemana Bortey (Ghana)
Att.: 35000
South Africa: Wade du Plessis, Edward Motale, David Nyathi, Andrew Tucker, Neil Tovey capt., Eric Tinkler, Doctor Khumalo, Linda Buthelezi, Brendan Augustine, August Makalakalane, Marks Maponyane (Helman Mkhalele 72'). Coach: Clive Barker.
Cote d'Ivoire: Konate, Aka Kouame, Diaby (Dago 60'), Gbahou, Gneto, Dadie, Kone, Kamara, Sie, Yoro (Bassole 26'), A Traore. Coach: Pleimelding.
11 February 1998
v Cote d'Ivoire 1-1 (Mkhalele 8' pen; Ouattara 88')
African Nations Cup finals group C
Omnisport stadium, Bobo-Dioulasso
Cautions: Guel 89'; Augustine 25', Rabutla 30', Baloyi 43'
Ref.: Charles Massembe (Uganda)
Att.: 20000
Cote d'Ivoire: Gouamene, Zere, Angan, Domoraud, Lassisi; Diabate, Guel, Dibo (Diomande 46'), Sie, Tiehi (Ouattara 76'), Bakayoko (M Traore 76'). Coach: Nouzaret.
South Africa: Brian Baloyi, Andrew Rabutla, David Nyathi, Willem Jackson, Mark Fish, Lucas Radebe capt., John Moshoeu, Helman Mkhalele, Brandan Silent (Themba Mnguni 70'), Brendan Augustine (Dumisa Ngobe 57'), Pollen Ndlanya (Benedict McCarthy 70'). Coach: Jomo Sono.
8 September, 2002
v Cote d'Ivoire 0-0
African Nations Cup qualifying group 11
Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium, Abidjan
Ref.: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)
Cautions: MacBeth Sibaya 79', Aaron Mokoena 86', Andre Arendse 89'; Drogba 52', Guei 88'
Att.: 40,000
Cote d'Ivoire: Tizie, Coulibaly, Toure, Kouassi, Domoraud, Zokora, Die, Akalé (Tiene
77'), Kalou (K Traore 46'), Esceth-N'Zi (Guéi 60'), Drogba. Coach: Nouzaret.
South Africa: Andre Arendse capt., Cyril Nzama, Mbulelo Mabizela, Jacob Lekgetho, Aaron Mokoena, Sibusiso Zuma, Japhet Zwane, Teboho Mokoena (Benedict Vilakazi 64'), MacBeth Sibaya, Shaun Bartlett, Nkosinathi Nhleko (Patrick Mbuthu 73'). Coach: Ephraim Mashaba.
22 June, 2003
v Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 (Shaun Bartlett 21', Siyabonga Nomvethe 65'; Kalou 41')
African Nations Cup qualifying group 11
Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane
Ref.: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)
Cautions: Tebeho Mokoena 5', Steven Pienaar 78'; Serge Die 10', Aruna Dindane 22',
Bonaventure Kalou 62'
South Africa: Andre Arendse, Tony Coyle (Lucky Lekgwathi 46'), Mbulelo Mabizela capt., Aaron Mokoena, Thabang Molefe, Tebeho Mokoena (Jabulani Mendu 81'), Steven Pienaar, Delron Buckley, Stanton Fredericks, Benni McCarthy (Siyabonga Nomvethe 46'), Shaun Bartlett. Coach: Ephraim Mashaba.
Cote d'Ivoire: Yeboah, Toure, G Domoraud, Doba, Coulibaly, Die (Yapi Yapo 79'), Zokora, Akale, Kalou (A Keita 73'), Dindane (Bakari 64'), Drogba. Coach: Robert Nouzaret.
12 November 2011
v Cote d’Ivoire 1-1 (Mphela 53’; Gaxa [og] 36’)
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
SA: Josephs; Ngcongca, Gould, Sangweni, Masilela (Gaxa 26’), Dikgacoi, Letsholonyane (Khuboni 90’), Pienaar (Maluleka 90+5’), Claasen (Manyisa 59’), Tshabalala (Lebese 90+6’), Mphela (Nontshinga 90’)
CIV: Barry; Lolo, Bamba, K. Toure, Tiene, Zokora, Y. Toure (Ya Konan 85’), Gosso (Eboue 88’), Gradel (Kalou 78’), Gervinho, Doumbia (Boni 66’)
SA v Cote d’Ivoire – head-to-head stats
P W D L GF GA
Home 3 1 2 0 3 2
Away 1 0 1 0 0 0
Neutral 1 0 1 0 1 1
Overall 5 1 4 0 4 3
Nelson Mandela Challenge history
1994 South Africa 2-1 Zambia
1995 South Africa 1-1 Argentina
1996 South Africa 2-3 Brazil
1997 South Africa 0-2 Netherlands
1998 South Africa 2-1 Egypt
1999 South Africa 1-0 Sweden
2000 South Africa 0-0 France
2002 South Africa 1-1 Senegal – Senegal won 4-1 on penalties
2003 South Africa 2-1 Costa Rica
2004 South Africa 2-1 Nigeria
2005 South Africa 2-3 Senegal
2006 South Africa 0-1 Egypt
2007 South Africa 0-1 USA
2008 South Africa 3-2 Cameroon
2009 South Africa 2-1 Norway
2010 South Africa 0-1 USA
2011 South Africa 1-1 Cote d’Ivoire
2012 South Africa 0-1 Zambia
2013 South Africa 0-2 Nigeria
P W D L GF GA
19 7 4 8 21 24
SA squad
Goalkeepers: Brandon Peterson, Jackson Mabokgwane, Dumisani Msibi
Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapho, Patrick Phungwayo, Motjeka Madisha, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Kwandakwentsizwa Mngonyama, Phumlani Ntshangase, Christopher Komane, Siyabonga Zulu
Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Siphelele Luthuli, Abbubaker Mobara, Vuyisile Wana, Fagrie Lakay, Thami Sangweni, Bongani Zungu, Asavela Mbekile
Strikers: Siyanda Ngubo, Puleng Tlolane, David Zulu, Lerato Lamola.
Cote d’Ivoire squad
Diallo Ismael Chester, Sangare Badra Ali, Moukoro Cheikh, Zirignon Badi Jean, Cisse Abdul Karim, Angban Victorien, Diabate Inza, Magbi Gbagbo, Britto Willie, kessie Franck, Diaby Ibrahima, Sangare Ibrahima, N’guessan Serge Diomande Ibrahim, Franck Anderson, Soumahoro Junior, Bini Kouman, Diavara Adam’s, Bgate Salif, Doumba Lamine.
Kick-off: 15h00