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Malabo - Following the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has admitted that South Africa will have a tough task in the 30th edition of the continental showpiece in Equatorial Guinea next year as they have been drawn against the giants of African football.
A draw for AFCON was conducted in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday night, ahead of the much anticipated tournament scheduled to kick-off next year.
Bafana have been drawn into a Group C pool alongside Ghana, Algeria and Senegal but the 64-year-old tactician believes that his youthful team will need a good preparation and quality players to compete and go all the way to the knock-out stages.
"Sekunjalo (It’s time), yes a draw is as it is now," said Mashaba.
"Algeria is a very tough team, very tactical and they are quick going forward and I think they will be a very problematic team to beat in this group.
"Senegal is a very physical team and they are also strong as well.
"They have lot of players playing abroad and I think that they will be another problem for us.
"Ghana, yes they have never been the same team like they were before. I think we are on the same level with them but with football being football.
"It means that we have to go out there and play for results, but people can level the group whatever they want to call it but sekunjalo (it’s time) for us and our players, we are not looking back.
"'They only things we need are good preparations, good players we need to bring here to compete and go all the way to the quarter finals, semi-finals and a final."
Mashaba also expressed the fact that all teams in his group are well motivated and his players will not need extra motivations from the technical team but they will be motivated by the teams they will face in the group stages.
Mashaba also revealed that Bafana are ready to conquer following their tremendous run in the qualifying campaign.
"'I think at times when the majority of people say it would be an easy group, that’s where you start having problems, but when they say it will be difficult, that is where everybody steps up their gears.
"All teams in our groups are well motivated and our players will motivate themselves by looking at the group we have.
"They won’t need extra motivation from the technical team but based on the qualifiers we had, I think we are ready for this group."
The tournament will be held in four cities namely Bata, Malabo, Mongomo and Ebibeyin.
The last time South Africa managed to advance to the knock-out stages, away from home, was back in the 2002 edition in Mali where they lost 2-0 to the host nation under Carlos Queiroz.
The much anticipated spectacle is set to take place from January 17 to February 8.
A draw for AFCON was conducted in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday night, ahead of the much anticipated tournament scheduled to kick-off next year.
Bafana have been drawn into a Group C pool alongside Ghana, Algeria and Senegal but the 64-year-old tactician believes that his youthful team will need a good preparation and quality players to compete and go all the way to the knock-out stages.
"Sekunjalo (It’s time), yes a draw is as it is now," said Mashaba.
"Algeria is a very tough team, very tactical and they are quick going forward and I think they will be a very problematic team to beat in this group.
"Senegal is a very physical team and they are also strong as well.
"They have lot of players playing abroad and I think that they will be another problem for us.
"Ghana, yes they have never been the same team like they were before. I think we are on the same level with them but with football being football.
"It means that we have to go out there and play for results, but people can level the group whatever they want to call it but sekunjalo (it’s time) for us and our players, we are not looking back.
"'They only things we need are good preparations, good players we need to bring here to compete and go all the way to the quarter finals, semi-finals and a final."
Mashaba also expressed the fact that all teams in his group are well motivated and his players will not need extra motivations from the technical team but they will be motivated by the teams they will face in the group stages.
Mashaba also revealed that Bafana are ready to conquer following their tremendous run in the qualifying campaign.
"'I think at times when the majority of people say it would be an easy group, that’s where you start having problems, but when they say it will be difficult, that is where everybody steps up their gears.
"All teams in our groups are well motivated and our players will motivate themselves by looking at the group we have.
"They won’t need extra motivation from the technical team but based on the qualifiers we had, I think we are ready for this group."
The tournament will be held in four cities namely Bata, Malabo, Mongomo and Ebibeyin.
The last time South Africa managed to advance to the knock-out stages, away from home, was back in the 2002 edition in Mali where they lost 2-0 to the host nation under Carlos Queiroz.
The much anticipated spectacle is set to take place from January 17 to February 8.
