The preparations kick off on November 14 with a friendly match against Zambia at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium. Another continental matchup is scheduled for December 23 in Durban, with the opponent yet to be determined. A third friendly is set for January 13 in Gauteng, just ahead of the tournament’s opening match on January 19 against Cape Verde. The identities of these two opponents will be revealed soon, according to Gordon Igesund, the coach.
In the interim, Bafana Bafana is slated to face Norway on January 8, 2013, adding another international fixture to their preparatory schedule.
In total, South Africa has planned four friendly matches before entering the group stage of CAN 2013. As the host nation, they find themselves in Group A, alongside Cape Verde, Morocco, and Angola. The comprehensive preparation strategy aims to ensure the team’s readiness for the challenges that lie ahead in the prestigious tournament.
