Mosimane warns South Africa against underestimating Eritrea in Afcon qualifier

South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane has urged his players to respect Eritrea’s threat, particularly striker Ali Sulieman, as Bafana Bafana seek an important away win in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifier on Wednesday.

The match will be played at Al Salam Stadium on the outskirts of Cairo at 6pm SA time because Eritrea do not have a Confederation of Africa-approved home venue.

The neutral setting could improve South Africa’s prospects of strengthening their position at the top of Group D. They opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, Mosimane’s first match since returning for his second spell in charge.

However, Mosimane has warned against assuming the 50th-ranked Bafana will have an easy evening against the 184th-ranked Eritrea. Eritrea began their campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against Kenya, coached by Benni McCarthy, in Nairobi on Saturday.

Mosimane said he had studied both that match and Eritrea’s 4-1 aggregate victory over Eswatini in the preliminary round, which secured their place in Group D. Sulieman, who plays for Al Masry in Egypt, scored three of Eritrea’s goals across the tie.

“The most important thing is to give respect to the opponents because they are in the group and they qualified to be there,” Mosimane said.

“We saw them against Eswatini. They managed to win to qualify so we respect them for that.

“They’ve got their striker who scores all the time [Sulieman], the guy even plays here in Egypt. He’s their top scorer, he’s fast, shoots from any angle whether from the left or right and is deadly at set-pieces and also penalties.

“So yes, that’s one important guy who’s very tricky who we have to look after.

“They have been good. They gave Kenya a scare too. Kenya had to come and equalise in the end in Kenya – that’s a big one.”

Mosimane demands intensity from Bafana

The South Africa coach also said his side must retain confidence in their own ability while trying to control the game.

“We played well last time [against Guinea]. Yes, we missed a few good chances, and we also need a little bit of improvement, the same as any other team.

“We played properly, we respected the country. And that is what I expect the boys to do, to show respect to the flag and no slouching, no walking; to be fighting and working hard.

“We need to show the same attitude against Eritrea they managed to get a point in Kenya.”

Sulieman is not Eritrea’s only player Mosimane has identified as a danger. Nahom Netabaym, who scored against Kenya, operates in midfield and plays for Swedish top-flight club Degerfors IF.

South Africa may also need to make a change at left-back. Aubrey Modiba was forced to leave the field injured against Guinea, and his Mamelodi Sundowns team-mate Fawaaz Basadien would be the natural replacement if Modiba is unavailable.