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Cape Town - South Africans always have high expectations when it comes to their national sporting teams and it will be no different with Bafana Bafana at the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This year has been filled with major sporting events, with the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Cricket World Cup underway in France and England, respectively.
But, sadly, Banyana Banyana and the Proteas failed to impress at these showpiece events.
Banyana have already landed back home after being knocked out, while the Proteas' latest defeat against New Zealand all but sealed their fate in yet another World Cup failure.
Meanwhile, South African fans will hold their breath as Bafana Bafana represent the nation in Egypt at the 32nd edition of AFCON.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24 on Thursday, industrious Bafana Bafana midfielder Dean Furman believes all South Africans have the right to their opinions.
"The fans are entitled to have high expectations, every fan, every nation will expect their team to go out there and perform and will want their team to go out and win the tournament," Furman said.
"For us (Bafana Bafana), our fans are no different. They have a right to have high expectations because they know the quality of players we have in this team.
"They've seen us perform against some of the top nations on this continent. They know that we can do it when we're on form, so they have a right to have high expectations, and for us as players it's just up to us to go out there and perform and do our very best."
The Bafana squad arrived in Cairo, Egypt via Dubai on Tuesday morning expecting to take on Angola in a friendly the next day.
The Angolans, however, cancelled the fixture due to 'lack of training' despite arriving in Egypt two days prior to the scheduled match.
But Furman believes the cancellation could be a blessing in disguise as South Africa prepare for their opening Group D clash against the continents football giants, Ivory Coast, on Monday, June 24 - two days after the midfielder turns 31.
South Africa then face neighbours Namibia on Friday, June 28, before tackling Morocco three days later on Monday, July 1.
