Christmas came early for soccer fans in Cape Town. Although they missing out on watching any Afcon games, they will have the opportunity to watch Bafana Bafana in a friendly against Norway in the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town on 8 January 2013.

This is the second time these two teams meet on South African soil. There first encounter in 2009 took place in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg which Bafana won the encounter 2-1. They also met in Norway and lost that match as well. Maybe it will be third time lucky for the Norwegians and they are looking forward to coming to South Africa to escape the cold in Norway and train in the summer in Cape Town.

This match is three weeks before the kick-off of the African Cup of Nations on January 19. By that time, the Bafana Bafana team would have been finalized and the combinations will be tested against Norway.

A capacity crowd of 55,000 is expected to fill the Cape Town Stadium and this will be the first international game in Cape Town after the World Cup. Bafana Bafana last played against the USA in the same stadium and lost.

Tickets for the game are available at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers and the prizes range between R50 and R100. The Norwegians will be training at Ikamva before there encounter against Bafana Bafana.