Bafana Bafana will return to the Mbombela Stadium to face Mauritania next Friday, September 2.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier will be a dead-rubber because South Africa cannot qualify.

Bafana started their campaign in June last year with a 0-0 draw at home against Gambia. In the away game against Mauritania they were thrashed 3-1. A 2-2 away draw against Cameroon and a 0-0 draw against the same team at home, did little to improve their chances of qualification. In June South Africa crushed Gambia 4-1 away from home, but it was too little too late.

With six log points from five matches, Bafana cannot finish in the top two places in Group M. Next Friday’s match will be for pride and preparation for the future.

Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba has announced a squad of 25 players to play against Mauritania as well as Egypt in the Nelson Mandela Challenge, in back to back matches.

South Africa will host the Pharaohs of Egypt in the 22nd edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, which will be played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday, 6 September.

Mashaba has kept the bulk of the squad that has been doing duty in the national team over the last few matches and added some new faces, Abbubaker Mobara, Deolin Mekoa, Maphosa Modiba.

The trio was part of the squad that won the 2016 Cosafa Castle Cup and also travelled to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, alongside Itumeleng Khune, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thapelo Morena, Keagan Dolly, Maphosa Modiba, and Gift Motupa, who have also been called up.

The Mbombela match comes after recess in the local league, something of a worry to Mashaba.

“It has been very difficult trying to pick the team because most of the players are still busy with pre-season, only a handful has matches under their belts. We had to rely mainly on what the players can do from past experiences. It was a tough call but we had to do it. Fortunately, some clubs have been playing in pre-season cup competitions, which is very encouraging,” said Mashaba.

Fans may see this as a meaningless match, but not so said Mashaba.

“When it comes to the national team, there is no match that doesn’t serve a purpose. We are fortunate we have two back to back to matches which will assist us great in helping preparing for the all-important start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers where we are away to Burkina Faso in the opening match less than a month after we play Egypt,” added Mashaba.

“And soon thereafter, we will be hosting Senegal in the second match. These are very crucial because a good start is vital in the qualifiers so that when you falter along the way or you gain momentum, you already have the points. We learnt our lesson in the Afcon qualifiers that a good start is key. The good thing is that the matches are just a month apart and by that time our players will have gained momentum from the league season, so the matches against Mauritania and Egypt will prepare us well,” he concluded.

The squad will arrive in Mbombela on Monday.

This will be South Africa’s eighth match at the stadium. They have never lost and have only conceded one goal in 630 minutes of football at Fortress Mbombela Stadium.

Their record is:

South Africa 4 – Thailand 0 (2010 friendly)

South Africa 2 – Niger 0 (2010 Afcon qualifier)

South Africa 0 – Sierra Leone 0 (2011, Afcon qualifier)

South Africa 3 – Gabon 0 (2012 friendly)

South Africa 2 – Mozambique 0 (2012 friendly)

South Africa 2 – Ivory Coast 0 (2014 Nelson Mandela Challenge)

South Africa 1 – Nigeria 1 (2015 friendly)

Kick-off is at 19:05 on Friday, September 2. Tickets cost R50 and are available at the stadium and at Computicket outlets.