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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana are trying to secure a friendly with Burkina Faso on February 8 as preparation for their African Nations Cup qualifier against champions Egypt.
The Pharaohs will be the first major test in Pitso Mosimane's 2011 schedule and after failing to secure a North African team ahead of the crucial March date, the South African Football Association began talks with the Burkinabe.
SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe, whose contract comes to an end on January 6, revealed the international friendly was on the verge of being finalised.
"The deal is 95 percent done to play the Burkinabe," he said.
"Initially, our coach Pitso Mosimane wanted to play a match against one of the top North African teams like Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria but we could not conclude a deal with either team after they withdrew. We could not try Egypt because they are in the same group with us for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
"We hope to finalise the negotiations with Burkina Faso in a few days' time, I'm working closely with Pitso on this matter.
"As for the venue for the match, we are still in discussion with various municipalities to come on board as partners to host Bafana Bafana."
Sedibe made it clear that Bafana will play the clash at a World Cup venue and hinted it would not be in the familiar surrounds of Soccer City and Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"We have made a commitment as the SAFA leadership after the World Cup in July that we will be taking our matches to the people to say a big thank you to South Africans for embracing Bafana Bafana during the World Cup," he said.
"In addition, we made it clear that Bafana Bafana will use the World Cup match venues because we don't want them to become white elephants."
The Pharaohs will be the first major test in Pitso Mosimane's 2011 schedule and after failing to secure a North African team ahead of the crucial March date, the South African Football Association began talks with the Burkinabe.
SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe, whose contract comes to an end on January 6, revealed the international friendly was on the verge of being finalised.
"The deal is 95 percent done to play the Burkinabe," he said.
"Initially, our coach Pitso Mosimane wanted to play a match against one of the top North African teams like Morocco, Tunisia or Algeria but we could not conclude a deal with either team after they withdrew. We could not try Egypt because they are in the same group with us for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
"We hope to finalise the negotiations with Burkina Faso in a few days' time, I'm working closely with Pitso on this matter.
"As for the venue for the match, we are still in discussion with various municipalities to come on board as partners to host Bafana Bafana."
Sedibe made it clear that Bafana will play the clash at a World Cup venue and hinted it would not be in the familiar surrounds of Soccer City and Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"We have made a commitment as the SAFA leadership after the World Cup in July that we will be taking our matches to the people to say a big thank you to South Africans for embracing Bafana Bafana during the World Cup," he said.
"In addition, we made it clear that Bafana Bafana will use the World Cup match venues because we don't want them to become white elephants."
