Bafana Bafana warned against panicking & blunders vs Zimbabwe that ‘could cost us big’

Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana have been warned against playing under pressure in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

South Africa play Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, before tackling Rwanda in another must-win outing on Tuesday at the Mbombela Stadium.

The team is placed second in Group C with 14 points following their recent sanction by FIFA for fielding suspended Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in March.

The Warriors of Zimbabwe are already eliminated, but Amavubi, who are currently three points behind Benin and Bafana Bafana, meaning they still have an opportunity to qualify for the prestigious global competition.

Former South Africa captain Neil Tovey has now advised his compatriots on what to do to get the needed result that might see them beat Benin to the World Cup ticket.

Let us do what we have to do

“I think we don’t have to panic. Any blunder could cost us big. We have got two games on Friday and Tuesday. Those are absolutely critical not only for SAFA themselves, but for the players,” Tovey told FARPost.

 The players just have to ask themselves, ‘Where do you want to play next year in June?’ They should all be saying, ‘I want to be at that World Cup.’ They are only two wins away and they are playing in South Africa.

But let’s not think about Tuesday’s game before we play Friday’s game. Let’s do what we have to do on Friday and then see what has to be done on Tuesday. Let’s make it out of everybody’s hands, just two win, and you qualify.

“They are doing pretty well. I watched the game against Nigeria, and they were not intimidated by the big Nigerians. I thought they handled the situation very well; they looked pretty solid and mentally good,” he concluded.