Cape Town – Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has urged South African fans to rally behind the team ahead of Sunday's crucial clash against Libya.
Bafana are set to take on the Mediterranean Knights in a Group E Africa Cup of Nations clash in Tunisia on Sunday night. Kickoff is 19:00.
The national team require a point to advance to the AFCON tournament in Egypt whereas the Knights have to collect the victory to progress at Bafana's expense. Nigeria have already qualified as group winners while Seychelles finished rock-bottom.
Nonetheless, Hlatshwayo remains positive that a good result can be achieved. Speaking to SAFA's official website, he said: "We are fully aware of what this match means to the players, the entire travelling delegation, the Association, the fans and the whole country, and we believe we have what it takes to ensure that we get the needed result, however, we urge all South Africans to rally behind the team this weekend for this all-important game.
"We all know that Bafana Bafana is a team that can unite the nation and bring some positivity around the country, and that is why we need positive energies back home for us to do well against Libya.
"Everyone is highly motivated in the camp and we know that we have a good chance of winning this encounter. We have conceded only one goal in five matches and haven't lost a game in the qualifiers, which is an indication that we are doing something right, we just need to finish off what we started.
"We have to maintain our good form in defence, score the needed goals so they don't even get a chance of coming back into the qualifiers, and, most importantly, stay focused the entire 90 minutes plus. The good thing is that qualification is in our hands, they need to win to overtake us, we have come too far to let it slip, hence the support from South Africans will be key."
