Kickoff (Cape Town)
11 November 2008
Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is expected to name his strongest squad on Thursday when he announces the team to face Cameroon in the Nelson Mandela Challenge set for Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on November 19.
After enjoying good results in recent games, the Brazilian coach is set to pick tried and tested players as he bids to record his fourth victory in succession with the national team.
Sources close to Bafana Bafana have revealed to KickOff.com that only Orlando Pirates' red hot winger Dikgang Mabalane and Belgium-based midfielder Elrio Van Heerden are set to be included in the squad that did the job against Ghana in an international friendly in Bloemfontein last month.
Santana will face a dilemma in the goalkeeping department as both Itumeleng Khune and Moeneeb Josephs have not been in the best form for their PSL teams this season, whilst Rowen Fernandez has yet to taste action in the Bundesliga with Armenia Bielefeld after his recent recovery from injury.
However, at least there is a silver lining in Bafana's defence following the return of Matthew Booth.
Booth had a storming game against Ghana and won the Man-of-the-Match award. His presence at the back could force Santana to shift Nasief Morris back onto the bench.
Tsepo Masilela is another who has not disappointed while wearing a Bafana shirt and could be our best bet in stopping the likes of Samuel Eto'o from causing havoc during the Indomitable Lions' visit.
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