Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba has announced the starting 11 that will take on Algeria in the opening match of the CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 tournament.
The match takes place at Stade de Mongomo on Monday, 19 January. Kick-off is at 20h00 local time (21h00 SA time).
Darren Keet is back in goals after starting on the bench against Cameroon and Mali. The Belgium-based player kept goals in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 victory over Zambia in an international friendly match earlier this month (4 January) at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Anele Ngcongca, who played in the heart of defence against Mali, returns to right-back and makes way for Rivaldo Coetzee who was rested for that match due to a knock on the knee. Siyabonga Nhlapho who started at right-back against Mali, is on the bench.
There is only one change in the midfield with Mandla Masango making way for Oupa Manyisa who will play alongside captain of the day Dean Furman, Andile Jali and Thuso Phala.
Due to club commitments, Furman has missed only two matches under coach Mashaba – the 2014 Nelson Mandela Challenge match against Cote d’Ivoire in December and the warm-up game against Zambia. Only Jali, Manyisa, Masango and Rantie have played one more match than Furman in the new era.
This is the fourth time Furman will captain South Africa.
Tokelo Rantie missed the Mali clash because of a hamstring strain but is back in the striking force in place of Bongani Ndulula. Sibusiso Vilakazi, scorer of the second goal in the Mali encounter, retains his place.
SA XI vs Algeria: 16-Darren Keet (GK), 6-Anele Ngcongca, 11-Thabo Matlaba, 14-Thulani Hlatshwayo, 2-Rivaldo Coetzee, 15-Dean Furman (C), 5-Andile Jali, 20-Oupa Manyisa, 18-Thuso Phala, 10-Sibusiso Vilakazi, 23-Tokelo Rantie
Subs: 22-Jackson Mabokgwane (GK), 1-Brilliant Khuzwayo (GK), 21-Ayanda Gcaba, 13-Thamsanqa Sangweni, 19-Themba Zwane, 7-Mandla Masango, 8-Bongani Zungu, 17-Bernard Parker, 4-Siyabonga Nhlapho, 9-Bongani Ndulula.
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