Preview: Algeria v Bafana

Cape Town - Algeria will look to their World Cup heroics for inspiration when they face South Africa in the second game of Group C on Monday. 

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South Africa will be feeling confident after staying undefeated in their last three games in preparation for the tournament. Bafana put three past Mali after holding Cameroon to a 1-1 draw and overcoming Zambia 1-0.

Head coach Shakes Mashaba will be expecting a tough game against the North Africans but knows his side have prepared well for the match.

Algeria are the highest ranked team in the tournament, sitting 18th in FIFA’s official rankings. The Desert Warriors won all of their qualifiers for the tournament and drew 1-1 with Tunisia in a pre-tournament friendly, so they will be confident of their chances heading into the match, and could even fancy themselves as one of the favourites for the trophy.

Bafana Bafana Captain Dean Furman and fellow midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi will expect to start after getting the goals against Mali, with the latter also scoring in the earlier draw with Cameroon.

There will also be competition to start in goal, as Darren Keet, Brilliant Khuzwayo and Jackson Mabokgwane have all had game time in the build-up to the tournament.

Algeria will have plenty of quality players to call on for the match. Captain Madjid Bougherra will lead the side from the centre of defence while stars such as Yacine Brahimi of Porto, Tottenham Hotspur’s Nabil Bentaleb and Valencia’s Sofiane Feghouli will make Algeria one of the best teams in the tournament.

Kick-off is schedule for 21:00 (SA time).

Bafana Bafana starting XI

Darren Keet, Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Rivaldo Coetzee, Dean Furman (captain), Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Thuso Phala, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Tokelo Rantie

Substitutes: Jackson Mabokgwane (GK), Brilliant Khuzwayo (GK), Ayanda Gcaba, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Themba Zwane, Mandla Masango, Bongani Zungu, Bernard Parker, Siyabonga Nhlapho, Bongani Ndulula

Suspended for the match: Eric Mathoho and Reneilwe Letsholonyane