Jomo Sono backs Bafana to win tough AFCON group

Former Bafana Bafana manager and SA football legend Jomo Sono has backed the national team to top a tough Group D at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

Drawn against Ivory Coast, Morocco and Namibia, Sono feels that there is no reason that Stuart Baxter's Bafana Bafana side cannot win the group.

With the top two teams and four best third place finishers progressing to the knockout stage, Sono feels qualifying for the next phase should be a straightforward task for Bafana.

I believe that we can top the group. To be honest nothing is impossible, Sono told The Citizen .

When we played Morocco in 1998 they were number one on the continent and we were somewhere down there and we knocked them out in the quarterfinals. It is up to how the players are prepared for the day and how the coach prepares his team on the day.

I strongly believe we can reach the knockout stages because there are four teams that can qualify as third-placed finishers. We have a chance.

Bafana line up against a strong Morocco team that includes breakout Champions League star Hakim Ziyech who already has 12 goals for his country in 23 appearances.

Sono stressed the need for Baxter and his team to make sure the players are mentally prepared for the AFCON.

Sometimes it is not about preparing the players physically, Sono added.

It is about the mental strength as well. We need that because we are not playing at home. We need to make sure that the head is right and they go out there and fight.

The bulk of the Ivory Coast squad ply their trade in Europe and Morocco are a quality outfit but Sono could not contemplate the prospect of anything other than a Bafana win against Namibia.

South Africa will beat Namibia, make no mistake. We can beat them any time. In the morning, afternoon, at night, just know that South Africa will beat Namibia. It does not matter where they play, he said

Whether there are floodlights or there are no floodlights, South Africa will beat Namibia, definitely.

The tournament takes place between June 21 and July 19 in Egypt.

Tags: AfconBafana BafanaIvory CoastMoroccoNamibia

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/jomo-sono-backs-bafana-to-win-to...
	See more stories from thesouthafrican

Most recent headlines