JOHANNESBURG — Coach Ephraim Mashaba packed plenty of bags for the African Cup of Nations because he's certain his South Africa team will go all the way to the final — and he needs to make sure he has enough clothes.
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"We're confident about it (making the final)," Mashaba said on Wednesday before his squad departed South Africa. "Alone, I've got six bags."
Bafana Bafana's players have prepared for "a long stay" in Equatorial Guinea, Mashaba said. To giggles, he told reporters and officials at Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport not to expect the team back home until Feb. 10, two days after the final.
And stashed in one of those bags was an outfit for a party after the tournament, he said.
Even if Mashaba truly believes South Africa will pack a punch at the African Cup, recent history doesn't back up his prediction.
South Africa didn't get out of its group at the Cup of Nations in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and didn't qualify at all in 2010 and 2012. It lost in the quarterfinals in 2013 as host.
But the team has shown signs of a turnaround since Mashaba — who is known at home by his nickname "Shakes" — took over last year. South Africa was impressive in qualifying this time and unbeaten in the decisive group stage, eliminating defending champion Nigeria.
That's given South Africans perhaps their most positive outlook for a Cup of Nations since the country won the title in 1996 and made the final two years later.
But South Africa's challenge in 2015 is significant. It plays top-ranked African team Algeria first up in Equatorial Guinea, then Senegal and Ghana in by far the toughest group.
"All the teams are equal," the bullish Mashaba said. "When they say the group of death, it gives us motivation. It will be good to beat the No. 1 team on the continent.
"I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior."
Mashaba's squad is mainly home-based, with a smattering of overseas players like England-based midfielder Dean Furman and forward Tokelo Rantie. The big surprise was Mashaba's decision to leave Ajax midfielder Thulani Serero out of his final 23.
Mostly, Mashaba has restored confidence after the team was called a "bunch of unbearable, useless individuals" a year ago by South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula following its early exit from the lower-level African Nations Championship.
On Wednesday, Mbalula wore a yellow and green team jersey and saw the players off at OR Tambo airport, backing them to succeed this time.
South Africa's squad flies to Gabon for warm-up games against Cameroon and Gabon before the African Cup.
Source : thestate.com
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