Edward Motale backs Bafana Bafana to make the knockout stages

The tournament is scheduled to commence in Ivory Coast on Saturday and will continue until February 11.

Motale, a CAF Champions League winner with Orlando Pirates in 1995, shared with SABC Sport his belief that Bafana can secure four points, a potentially sufficient tally for progress in Group E, where they face Mali, Namibia, and Tunisia.

Bafana received a heartfelt farewell at the Southern Sun Hotel at OR Tambo on Thursday before embarking on their journey to the West African country.

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"I think they'll go to the next round. I've got a strong belief that we'll get a point from Mali, we'll beat Shalulile [Namibia] then we'll go to the next round," said Motale.

The lively former defender is placing trust in the expertise of captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, along with star player Percy Tau, and seasoned defender Grant Kekana, to take centre stage and lead the team during the tournament. 

"Well, Ronwen, i just spoke to him. Percy, Grant, the centre back Mvala [Mothobi], senior players need to pull it through. They need to help these youngsters because if you if you are my senior and you are panicking, as a youngster I will panic more. So, the seniors must pull it through. This is the time now to show us, the world and the country what they are made of," he added.

Motale is also banking on the seasoned expertise of the Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who secured victory in the tournament with Cameroon in Gabon in 2017.

"Also, the coach, I think the coach and his bench must play a role. When the going gets tough we need somebody to break the glass and take the key so we can distinguish the fire."