Igesund betting on agility, strong personality for quarterfinal clash

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is keeping his starting line-up and game plan close to his chest ahead of tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash with Mali.

Igesund said he had already made up his mind about his starting players but refused to divulge their names to the media.

He said there would definitely be changes in the team that started against Angola and Morocco.

“We all know what is at stake and we have our own game plan which we must stick to throughout the game, unless we decide to change it. I have considered all the players and we will go with players with great agility and strong personality because it will not be easy out there,” said Igesund. Bafana will be without their reliable right-back Anele Ngcongca, who is suspended for the game.

But Igesund said he had devised a plan to overcome their West African opponents.

“Fear seems to have left us now after our nervous start to the tournament and we need to build on the momentum we got from Angola and Morocco. Our confidence is very high and we are positive of winning tomorrow,” he said.

The Bafana coach, however, acknowledged the threat posed by Mali, saying they were a very good side capable of going all the way to the final.

Bafana were not scared of them but rather respected them, he said.

While he said he did not think the game would be decided by a penalty shoot-out, Bafana have been practising this.

“Hopefully we will not get there but if we do we should be ready.”