SA U17 men’s national team have a huge task at hand as they prepare to face a strong Senegal side in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) quarter-final clash at the Stade Nelson Mandela on Wednesday.
Amajimbos secured qualification as one of the best number threes after Burkina Faso stunned defending champions Cameroon when they beat them 2-1 on Sunday, a result that was enough for coach Duncan Crowie’s charges to progress to the next stage of the continental competition.
A lot will be at stake as the semi-finalists will automatically earn themselves a spot in the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Peru later in 2023.
Standing in South Africa’s way will be a Senegalese side that has a 100% winning record in the competition so far.
Crowie has emphasised that the mental fitness of the players will be key in a match he described as a final before the final.
“If we are not ready for the game, we will never be ready,” Crowie said.
“Yes, Senegal is a tough team to play against and one of our main objectives when we came here was to qualify for the World Cup.
“The game is our final because that is the ultimate for everybody to qualify [for the World Cup], and thereafter we will think of the road forward. It will be a tough one, but we look forward to it.”
Playmaker Michael Dokunmu is adamant that the team is in the right frame of mind ahead of the challenge at hand.
“We have watched the highlights and saw how good Senegal are in terms of attacking. We know what’s coming and we are prepared,” Dokunmu said.
Kick-off is at 6pm.
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