The likelihood is that Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will leave a final decision on Mphela up to the last minute, given the crucial nature of the Group 7 clash in the Nigerienne capital.
Bafana know that a victory in Niger will guarantee their qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon at the start of next year, provided Sierra Leone fail to beat Egypt the previous day.
And even a draw will set them in fine stead to make it to the finals.
But Niger have won both their home qualifiers thus far, and have the extra motivation of knowing that victory over Bafana will see them leapfrog Mosimane’s men at the top of the group.
Niger were unimpressive in a 2-0 defeat to Bafana in Nelspruit last September but they can expect a different scenario in front of a fervent home crowd in the heat of Niamey.
Mosimane’s side have shown themselves well capable of a good scrap already in goalless draws in Cairo and Freetown in qualifying, and defender Morgan Gould said Thursday that they were up for another fight on Sunday.
“It will be very physical, we know that they fight for everything,” said Gould.
“They will come for the three points on their home ground, and mentally and physically we know they will be up for it.
“When we played them (at home) they didn’t look good, but we’ve watched a couple of their tapes and on their home ground they get the results.
“They … fight for every result they get.”
Gould is one of Bafana’s friendliest faces off the pitch always ready with a warm greeting, but on it he is a man you would want at the frontline of any battle.
Those scrapping qualities were evident in Cairo in June, as he and Siyabonga Sangweni kept out the Pharaohs, and it has encouraged Mosimane to continue to prefer him ahead of his former SuperSport teammate Bongani Khumalo.
“Maybe we need to speak to the doctor to give us gum guards,” added Gould on Thursday.
“I don’t mind coming back with scars as long as we do the job.”
Bafana’s defence will certainly be coming up against some tall, powerful Nigerienne strikers.
Ouwa Moussa Maaazou, for one, who has just joined Belgian top flight side Zulte Waregem on loan from CSKA Moscow, stands at 1,85 metres tall, and netted Niger’s winner in their 1-0 victory over Egypt in Niamey last October.
“There are a couple of their players that we watched tapes of,” said Gould.
“We know they make a huge difference.
“We have to compete aerially.”
If there has been a problem for Bafana in an excellent qualifying campaign thus far, it is that they have yet to find the net on the road, all of which makes Mphela’s injury all-the-more worrisome.
Bafana already have enough injuries on their plate, with Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagiso Dikgacoi, Steven Pienaar, Tlou Segolela and Moeneeb Josephs all ruled out for the Niger clash.
“It’s unfortunate, but injuries do happen,” said Gould.
“We’re a bit shaken by it, but I still believe we have the ammunition to do what we have to do.”
*At this stage, the SABC have not reached an agreement to televise the match. Jonty Mark will be in Niamey. You can follow him on twitter @Jontymark
Source http://iol.co.za
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