South African defender, Khuliso Mudau believes that the experience of key players on the continent will be helpful when Bafana Bafana get their AFCON campaign underway in Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday, www.acslports.com reports.
South Africa arrived in Korhogo, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, 11 January where they will be playing all their Group E fixtures at the newly built Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly – the same venue that Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa recently lifted the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Mudau, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, while speaking to CAFOnline on Friday, says experience on the continent will be vital for the team to succeed at the continental showpiece.
“It won’t be an easy group to get out of, but I think we have quality in the squad with players who are young and hungry. We want to make sure that we write history together. I think it will help us a lot to have players who play in the Champions League. You can’t compare it with the local league because the intensity is not the same. So I think it’s going to help us a lot. We have been playing together for quite a while now as a team and I am just grateful to be here and want to showcase my talent”, said Mudau.
In addition to Mudau and his Sundowns teammates, Bafana Bafana have the in-form Percy Tau who not only has continental experience but recently came back with a bronze medal from the FIFA Club World Cup with Egyptian giants, Al Ahly. The team is also led by former AFCON winner, Hugo Broos who guided Cameroon to the title in 2017.
“He is very important. He is a very good coach. An experienced coach and I believe if we can apply exactly what he wants us to apply, we can make it” concluded Mudau.
South Africa are in Group E with North African giants Tunisia, neighbours Namibia and Mali. They will begin their campaign against Mali on Tuesday as they hope for a first continental success since 1996.
