Bafana to attack more against Egypt?

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has suggested that there could be more attacking play in the team’s Africa Cup of Nations last 16 clash against hosts Egypt.

Stuart Baxter, Bafana coach.
(c) Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images

Baxter has come under-fire for his tactics in the team’s group stage campaign, where they managed to score just one goal in the victory over Namibia. They did not have a shot on target in the final group match against Morocco, which was a cause for concern as many South Africans questioned Baxter’s defensive approach.

Against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, Baxter says the team should up their attacking game by 15 percent. He believes this would give the hosts, who are having a good run in the tournament so far, big problems defensively.

“Our attacking play has not been at its best, our defensive play I think for the most part has been good. But we’ve got to add onto that a functioning attacking game now, you know. Against Egypt I’m guessing they are going to come at us, I’m guessing there’s going to be a bit more space on offer, so we believe if we can up our attacking game 15 percent then we will be able to give them problems,” Baxter said.

“Everybody was buzzing [after qualifying for the last 16] and they are looking forward to it. I don’t think mentally we have to lift them. I think they know that each game [during the group stages] was very close in the games we lost.” – bbc.com