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Bafana Bafana played to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Ethiopia on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg – not the fast start to qualifying that coach Pitso Mosimane would have been hoping for.
Despite dominating possession, South Africa needed a late goal from Katlego Mphela to salvage a draw against the East Africans as the malaise of poor finishing once again reared its head. If the task of finishing top of Group A was not tough enough already, Mosimane’s team now have a real challenge on their hands.
But getting back in track for Brazil 2014 is just a win away, and picking up all three points away to neighbours Botswana in Gaborone will go a long way toward boosting Bafana’s hopes.
However, the Zebras will be tough opponents. They may have lost their opening Group A match away to Central African Republic on Saturday, but they showed their class by qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (a tournament for which SA did not make the cut) and they have considerable knowledge of the Bafana team due to many of their players plying their trade in South Africa.
The good news for Mosimane and his team is that Bafana Bafana have never lost a match outright to Botswana, recording four wins and two draws since the teams’ first meeting in 1993.
The only disappointment South Africa has suffered against their neighbours came in the 2006 Cosafa Castle Cup when the Zebras won 6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw. The last time the teams met was in January 2008 when Bafana claimed a 2-1 win in Durban thanks to goals from Sibusiso Zuma and Bryce Moon.
This will be the fifth time South Africa and Botswana meet in Gaborone, thought it is the first time that the small-capacity University of Botswana Stadium is being used for a match between the teams.
SA v Botswana – previous meetings
10 January, 1993
v Botswana 2-0 (Seale 58’, Moshoeu 86’)
Friendly international
National Stadium, Gaborone
20 February, 1999
v Botswana 2-1 (Ndlanya 36’, Phiri 39’; Selolwane 13’)
Cosafa Castle Cup first round
National Stadium, Gaborone
30 March, 2002
v Botswana 0-0
South Africa won 5-4 on pens
Cosafa Castle Cup first round
National Stadium, Gaborone
21 May, 2006
v Botswana 0-0
Botswana won 6-5 on penalties
Cosafa Castle Cup Group B final
National Stadium, Gaborone
29 September, 2007
v Botswana 1-0
Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal
Super Stadium, Tshwane
16 January 2008
v Botswana 2-1(Moon 41’, Zuma 81’)
Friendly international
King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban
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