Bafana Bafana depart for Cameroon

Bafana Bafana players and technical team were in high spirits as they departed for Cameroon on Tuesday (4 June) where they will face the Central African Republic (CAR) in a key 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The match will take place in Yaoundé on Saturday, 8 June 2013 and is scheduled to kick off at 16h00 South African time.

Bafana Bafana go into this important match high on confidence following their convincing 2-0 victory over Lesotho in an international friendly match last Sunday.

Coach Gordon Igesund welcomed overseas-based striker Tokelo Rantie and midfielder May Mahlangu who missed the Lesotho clash due to club commitments.

South Africa who are second in Group A with five points, two behind leaders Ethiopia, defeated CAR 2-0 in the first leg played in Cape Town in March this year.

"We are well aware how difficult this match is going to be, and we can't bank on our last result hoping things will be easy. Football does not work like that.

“We have to work twice as hard to ensure we get the same result as in the first match, and I believe we are up to the task," said Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune, who is expected to return to the starting line-up after being rested for the Lesotho game.

"We are happy with the result in Lesotho because it's a huge morale booster going into this CAR encounter. We need to continue where we left off and continue working as hard as we always do. We would like to return to South Africa with all six points - and that is very possible."

His words were echoed by midfielder Dean Furman.

"This is a very massive game for us and the entire country. We know it’s not going to be easy but we have a strong belief that we can come back victorious. The win in CAR will set us up nicely for an even more difficult match in Ethiopia the following week, but we must take it one game at a time," said Furman.

Bafana Bafana are expected to arrive in Yaoundé just after midnight. They are expected to start training on Wednesday afternoon.