Bafana Bafana head to North Africa for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Libya on Sunday with a mixed record in that part of the continent. Bafana must avoid defeat to the Libyans in neutral Sfax‚ Tunisia‚ in order to qualify for the Afcon finals in Egypt that will be played in June-July‚ something they have managed away against North African teams in more than half of their previous games. In fixtures away at the home of their opponents‚ Bafana have two wins and two draws from seven matches‚ a decent return in what is arguably the most difficult part of the continent to go and get a result. Sfax may be neutral‚ but is also a ‘second home’ to the Libyans‚ who have played a number of matches there down the years and will likely enjoy some good local support. Bafana have drawn on their last two visits up North‚ holding Egypt to a 0-0 stalemate in a Afcon qualifier in 2011‚ a game they might well have won.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 19, 2019 11:48 UTC