International Friendly

Teams: Bafana v Norway

Date: 8 January 2013

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has had some time to prepare with his squad and is eager to see what their time together will yield against Norway in the Mother City on Tuesday night.

The match is part of their preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations which gets underway later this month.

Igesund was in a confident mood ahead of the clash, saying that he was excited with what he had seen on the training ground.

The Norway coach was less confident, saying that a lot of his players had not been playing competitive football since the end of their local league, but expected them to put up a fight.

"It is a very important game for us. As you know, I've never had the players for longer than a week before, and I'm pleased with what I've seen on the training ground," Igesund said before the game.

The coach also said that his side would not be an indication of exactly what he has in store for AFCON, adding, "I don't want to show all my cards at once."

In team news, Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela will be tasked with finding goals after he showed some good form following his return from injury.

Bongani Khumalo and Siyabonga Sangweni will hold the centre of defence while Reneilwe Letsholonyane Kagisho Dikgacoi will look to control the engine room.

This is how they line up:

Bafana: Itumeleng Khune, Tsepo Masilela, Bongani Khumalo, Siyabonga Sangweni, Anele Ngcongca, Thuso Phala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lerato Chabangu, Katlego Mphela.

Norway: Rune Almenning Jarstein, Espen Ruud, Kim Andre Madsen, Frederik Semb Berge, Lars Christopher Vilsvik, Ardian Gashi, Tarik Elyounoussi, Njon Helge Rilise, Erik Huseklepp, Ruben Jenssen, Alexander Soderlund.