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Cape Town - South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba has been handed a big
boost following the news Rivaldo Coetzee could still feature at the
2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ajax Cape Town teenager needed to be stretchered off with a knee injury during Bafana Bafana's Group C opener against Algeria, which ended 3-1 to the Fennec Foxes.
Mashaba initially suggested the 18-year-old's tournament was over, but team doctor Thulani Ngwenya believes the centre-back could still feature for the side, although he will definitely miss Friday's second round of fixtures against Senegal.
"He will not be able to play in the next match but we’ve not ruled him out of the tournament," Ngwenya said.
There had also been suggestions Mashaba had rushed Coetzee back from a previous injury too soon, but Ngwenya says the two knocks are completely separate.
"He was fully fit to play. This is a completely different injury. He had a problem on side of his left knee but the medical team passed him fit. This new injury is on the right hand side," the doctor said.
The Ajax Cape Town teenager needed to be stretchered off with a knee injury during Bafana Bafana's Group C opener against Algeria, which ended 3-1 to the Fennec Foxes.
Mashaba initially suggested the 18-year-old's tournament was over, but team doctor Thulani Ngwenya believes the centre-back could still feature for the side, although he will definitely miss Friday's second round of fixtures against Senegal.
"He will not be able to play in the next match but we’ve not ruled him out of the tournament," Ngwenya said.
There had also been suggestions Mashaba had rushed Coetzee back from a previous injury too soon, but Ngwenya says the two knocks are completely separate.
"He was fully fit to play. This is a completely different injury. He had a problem on side of his left knee but the medical team passed him fit. This new injury is on the right hand side," the doctor said.
