Five reasons why South Africa will stun Ghana and progress

South Africa leads Group G, three points ahead of second-placed Ghana, as the two sides prepare for their last Group G meeting on Sunday at the Cape Coast Stadium.

If Bafana wins or draws, they will advance to the final play-off round as Group G champions, where they will face one of the other nine group winners on a home-and-away basis.

South Africa landed in Ghana yesterday to prepare early for the crucial encounter with the Black Stars.

Below are the five reasons:

The Keagan Dolly factor

The Kaizer Chiefs star is in the best form of his life and he will pose a big threat to the Black Stars defence.

Dolly grabbed an assist against Zimbabwe on Thursday as Bafana claimed a 1-0 and he has now been involved in 10 goals across all competitions for both club and country this term.

The experienced attacker seems unstoppable at the moment and he will look to take advantage
of Ghana’s defensive woes.

The Black Stars have kept just one clean sheet in their last four games and the former Mamelodi Sundowns man might be difficult to contain.

Percy Tau’s Big Match Temperament

The Bafana talisman always rises to the big occasions for the 1996 African champions and he can be the man to send South Africa to the next round.

Tau was one of the reasons why Bafana qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals as he grabbed crucial goals in away victories over Nigeria and Libya during the qualifying campaign.

Having already scored against Ghana in the 2022 Afcon qualifier in March this year, the new Al Ahly forward will be confident of scoring again and propel his side to a win in West Africa.

Ghana there for the taking

The Black Stars are without some of their key players in vice-captain Thomas Partey and their finest goalkeeper Richard Ofori with both players injured.

Ethiopia made Ghana look average at times as they fought back to hold the Black Stars to a 1-1 draw on Thursday, something that would have been unlikely if Partey was on the pitch for the West African giants.

The Arsenal star is the man who sets the tempo of the Black Stars’ play, retains possession and also drives the team forward and he will be missed by his nation against South Africa.

While goalkeeper Joe Wollacott has looked unconvincing having failed to keep a clean sheet in his last two games for the Black Stars.

The reliable Ronwen Williams

The Bafana captain is one of the reasons why South Africa are yet to lose a game in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as he has been brilliant.

The commanding goalkeeper exudes confidence in the box and it has rubbed off his defenders which have seen Bafana concede just one goal from five Group G matches. They are also yet to concede from open play.

It took something special from Ethiopia captain Getaneh Kebede to beat Williams on October 9 and he will be determined to keep his fifth clean sheet in Cape Coast.

A clean sheet against Ghana would see South Africa reach the next round of qualifying.

Broos’ record against Ghana

Bafana coach Hugo Broos boasts of an unbeaten record against Ghana having faced the Black Stars twice in his managerial career.

The accomplished tactician masterminded a 2-0 win over West African giants as Cameroon coach in the 2017 Afcon semi-final clash, before leading Bafana to a 1-0 win over the Black Stars on September 6.

Broos knows how to beat four-time African champions and there’s no doubt that he can mastermind their downfall once again.