Bafana Bafana depart for AFCON
They depart to continue preparations for the tournament. They have scheduled a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday in Libreville, with another one against hosts Gabon on the cards.
According to safa.net, the squad will now fly directly to Libreville, the capital of Gabon after they were initially scheduled to make an overnight stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bafana are jetting off at 14h50 after their meeting with the Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula to wish them well on their assignment.
The MEC is accompanied by the President of SAFA Dr Danny Jordaan at the Southern Sun Hotel OR Tambo international Airport in Johannesburg.
Winger Thuso Phala told the SAFA website that he believes anyone undermining their team will be doing so at their own peril.
The boys completed their preparations on home soil yesterday in Johannesburg.
Phala returned to the national team set-up having played his last match in March last year against New Zealand in Auckland.
SA's Group C fixtures:
January 19 - South Africa v Algeria, Estadio de Mongomo, 21h00
January 23 - Senegal v South Africa, Estadio de Mongomo, 21h00
January 27 - Ghana v South Africa, Estadio de Mongomo, 20h00.
Full Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Brilliant Khuzwayo, Darren Keet, Jackson Mabokgwane
Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapo, Patrick Phungwayo, Anele Ngcongca, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thabo Matlaba
Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Andile Jali, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Dean Furman, Thuso Phala, Mandla Masango, Oupa Manyisa
Strikers: Bernard Parker, Tokelo Rantie, Bongani Ndulula, Sibusiso Vilakazi.
(File photo: Gallo Images)
Today we bid farewell to bafana bafana ,ORT southern sun international airport with the President of SAFA Dr Danny Jordaan 11am @SAFA_net.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) January 7, 2015
Bafana Bafana are no underdogs - Phala http://t.co/Gre7LAIqaT http://t.co/97HOqtmYl5
— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) January 7, 2015
@BafanaBafana Safe trip to Guinea and all the best with AFCON tournament.Make Mzanzi proud #bring back the pride
— Bistolla TT Masindi (@Bistolla) January 7, 2015