Cameroon soccer coach David Paguo has warned Bafana Bafana that Sunday’s game will not be a walk in the park for Bafana.
His comments come as the two nations will clash in the last 16 of the AFCON in Rabat, Morocco.
Paguo says he’s been monitoring Bafana, and has high regard for team strengths, which he attributed to the competitive Betway Premiership league.
But despite the accolades, Paguo is confident that the Indomitable Lions will progress to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament and lift the cup.
“We’re going to continue to progress, because it’s a new team, I built it, step by step. South Africa is a great team, they know themselves very well. They performed well in the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast and will be under pressure this time. It’s going to be a difficult match,” warned Paguo.
They have since gone on to play six times more against each other with South Africa having a strong record against Cameroon with three victories to one loss and five draws, including the last three encounters.
Both teams have clashed ten times in the past, with Bafana winning three matches, one loss, and five draws.
The Indomitable Lions have lifted the cup five times, while Bafana only glory was in 1996 as host.
The current Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, led Cameroon to continental glory in 2017, and is eager to replicate the milestone with Bafana.
Pagou says his team will play their strengths and expressed confidence on some of his young players.
“We will play to our strengths and try to make things difficult for them. The goal is to show up strongly and deliver a good performance The young players have great quality and potential. They just need to adapt quickly to the national team so they can give their best,” explained Pagou.
Bafana on the other hand, has spent a week correcting most of the mistakes made during the hard-fought 3-2 win against Zimbabwe on Monday.
“From now on, because we know that if we lose just one game, we’re going home. We need to improve in many aspects and we’re correcting that; we just have to go to the basics. It’s going to be a great game to test ourselves. If we lose it’s going to be a disappointment on us and the country. We need to win that game,” said Bafana’s midfielder, Sphephelo Sithole.
The match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat will be played at 9pm.
