AFCON 2023: Kekana pledges Bafana Bafana's determination ahead of crucial AFCON semi-final clash

Published on: 05 February 2024

South Africa's defensive stalwart, Grant Kekana, has asserted the unwavering commitment of Bafana Bafana as they gear up for a decisive 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final showdown against Nigeria, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Mamelodi Sundowns defender shared his thoughts in anticipation of Wednesday's highly anticipated clash at the Stade de la Paix, Bouaké.

Following a hard-fought 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Cape Verde, South Africa has earned their place in the semi-finals, setting the stage for a formidable encounter with the Super Eagles.

Acknowledging the impending challenge, Kekana emphasized that Wednesday's clash is poised to be South Africa's most formidable test in the ongoing AFCON.

Addressing reporters in the mixed zone, Kekana acknowledged Nigeria's wealth of quality players and their commendable journey in the tournament.

“Obviously it’s another tough opponent. We know Nigeria has a lot of quality players, we know they’ve done well to also get this far but we believe in ourselves.” Kekana said.

Despite the tough opposition, he conveyed the team's self-belief, outlining their proactive approach to strategizing and expressing confidence in securing a positive result against Nigeria through meticulous planning.

“We are going to go to the drawing board, plan accordingly and give ourselves a chance of getting a positive result against them.”

By Olujimi Dare Ogun

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