The South African national team looks set to play an international friendly against world champions France and Zambia, as part of their preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana, as South Africa are affectionately known, failed to qualify for the AFCON which is currently being played in Cameroon, so the country’s football association is working behind the scenes to ensure they get some competitive matches when the international break comes in March.
The last time Bafana Bafana came up against France was during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. On that day, the South Africans beat France 2-1. Both countries were knocked out in the first round of the competition.
France, however, have since gone on to become world champions and will give Bafana Bafana a big test. The venue for the match will be announced.
“We are playing against France, and I think against Zambia after that,” Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos told South African newspaper Sunday Times.
“Those are the two matches to prepare us for the AFCON qualifiers in June. You are playing against the World Champions. Strong opposition give you proper preparation. Even if you lose the games, it is not a train smash.
“Such games tell you the distance the team has covered. They give you something more. Maybe that is what we needed and didn’t have for the qualifiers of the World Cup. We didn’t really play tough matches.”
Zambia, meanwhile, recently confirmed the appointment of new coach Aljosa Asanovic and he will also be testing out his squad for the AFCON qualifier. Like South Africa, Zambia did not qualify for the AFCON which is currently being played in Cameroon.
