African Nations Championship
Teams: South Africa v Mozambique
Date: 11 January 2014
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Hosts South Africa will look to start the tournament off on a good note when they meet neighbours Mozambique in the opening game of the 2014 CHAN tournament.
South Africa and Mozambique have met four times before, with Bafana Bafana winners on all four occasions.
The Bafana Bafana team only assembled last weekend after successfully negotiating the release of players from Kaizer Chiefs and Wits, who had threatened to withdraw their players.
Read: Chiefs Players To Join CHAN Squad
Read: SAFA and Wits Reach Agreement
With PSL fixtures scheduled in January, the team is without any players from Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United and Amazulu.
Ajax Cape Town players were also excluded, however Thato Mokeke joined the squad later to replace the injured Tsepo Masilela, after an arrangement with the club was made.
Read: Mokeke Replaces Masilela In CHAN Squad
The Mozambique squad, coached by Joao Chissano, has five players from their champions Liga Muculmana, and also five from rivals Costa do Sol.
The Mambas have picked a balanced squad with a number of experienced players including Dario Khan, Alvarito and Miro, the former Wits and Platinum Stars player.
Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund told the SAFA website, "They are a litte bit of a closed book to us but I know about 60 percent of the team. I must emphasise that I am focussing on my our team, on what we have to do. We will plough back what we have doing over the last few days and whatever they do they have to cope with us."
This is how they line-up:
South Africa: Itumeleng Khune, Thato Mokeke, Bryce Moon, Thabo Nthethe, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Hlompho Kekana, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Sibusisio Vilakazi, Lerato Chabangu, Katlego Mashego, Bernard Parker
Mozambique: Soarito, Monis, Khan, Chico II, Miro, Josimar, Alvarito, Kito, Diogo, Sonito, Lanito
Read: Masinga: We Can Win It
Watch: SLTV's Bafana V Mozambique Preview
By Soccer-Laduma
Follow us on Twitter @Soccer_Laduma
