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Cape Town - South Africa Under-23 coach Owen da Gama has made two changes to the team that defeated Zambia 3-2 in the second match of CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
South Africa face Tunisia in a do-or-die affair on Friday at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, Senegal.
Kick-off is at 19:00 South African time.
Jody February retains his place in goals, and the rearguard of Tebogo Moerane at left-back, Abbubaker Mobara at right-back, and central defenders Rivaldo Coetzee and Kwanda Mngonyama remains the same.
Mobara has been declared fit to play after he shrugged off the groin injury he sustained in the clash against Zambia. He trained on Thursday afternoon without any signs of discomfort and managed to complete the session.
There is one change in midfield and one upfront.
Phumlani Ntshangase comes in to work alongside captain Keagan Dolly, Deolin Mekoa and Menzi Masuku in the middle of the park.
The new attack will be formed for Gift Motupa and Siphelele Ntshangase. Dumisani Zuma and Phakamani Mahlambi will start on the bench.
“I am quite confident that the team we have selected will do the job. We did not want to make too many changes, as we wanted to keep the momentum from the last match. Also, I do not want us worrying too much about them, we should focus on our game and they will worry about us. We have to take the game to them and we know an early goal will break them,” said Da Gama.
SA Under-23 XI:
Jody February (GK), Kwanda Mngonyama, Rivaldo Coetzee, Tebogo Moerane, Abbubaker Mobara, Keagan Dolly (c), Gift Motupa, Phumlani Ntshangase, Siphelele Ntshangase, Menzi Masuku, Deolin Mekoa
Substitutes: Ricardo Goss (GK), Kyle Peters (GK), Tshepo Rikhotso, Zitha Macheke, Denwin Farmer, Ryaad Norodien, Sibusiso Sibeko, Paseka Mako, Phakamani Mahlambi, Dumisani Zuma
