Jordaan tells Mosimane Guinea opener is ‘close to’ a must-win

SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan has warned newly appointed Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane that his return to the national team will be judged immediately, with this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea described as “close to” a must-win.

Jordaan stopped short of formally attaching that label to the opening fixture, but his comments at Mosimane’s unveiling at SAFA House on Tuesday made clear that a poor result would leave little room for error.

Bafana Bafana are ranked among the leading teams in Africa, while their opponents in the group sit lower in the relevant continental and world rankings. However, Jordaan said those standings would count for nothing once the players took to the pitch.

“Bafana Bafana is ranked number 10 on the African continent. We’re playing against Kenya, they’re playing against Eritrea. They’re all ranked lower than us. Guinea is ranked number 15. Guinea is ranked number 109 on the FIFA ranked list. And Eritrea is number 184. But you know, in football, it doesn’t matter where FIFA ranks you, it doesn’t matter where CAF ranks you. It depends on the 11 players on the day that’s on the field,” Jordaan said.

“It depends on the preparation and the determination of the players,” he added.

The SAFA president then underlined the significance of Bafana Bafana’s first match under Mosimane, identifying it as the most important fixture in the group at this early stage.

“And that is what we are facing from the first game, which is probably the most important in this group against Guinea. I don’t want to say it’s a must-win, but it’s close to that. It’s a must-win,” he said.

Jordaan believes the contest carries consequences beyond the immediate battle for three points. In his view, the outcome could shape both Bafana Bafana’s qualification campaign and the narrative surrounding Mosimane’s second spell as head coach.

“Because that will set the path not just for qualification of this African Cup of Nations, but it will set the kind of history that we want to create for Bafana and the pathway that you have expressed in your presentations. So let the work begin,” Jordaan explained.

Mosimane, 62, has been given a long-term mandate by SAFA. Although the immediate priority is to negotiate the Africa Cup of Nations campaign, the wider plan is intended to build towards the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

That longer-term ambition means the Guinea fixture is the first significant test of a project that SAFA expects to extend well beyond the current qualifying campaign. Before Mosimane can begin pursuing those broader objectives, however, Jordaan’s message was that Bafana Bafana must deliver a positive result in their opening competitive match.

The coach’s return therefore comes with both time to develop the national side and immediate pressure to produce. While rankings suggest South Africa should hold an advantage over several teams in the group, Jordaan stressed that preparation, commitment and performance on the day will determine the result.