Kagisho Dikgacoi (pictured right) backs Bafana Bafana to surprise co-hosts Mexico in their FIFA World Cup opener, highlighting the team’s potential and the advantages of the new expanded tournament format. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
Image: Sydney Mahlangu, BackpagePix
Kagisho Dikgacoi believes Bafana Bafana can do the impossible and even pull off a win against co-hosts Mexico in their FIFA World Cup opener on Thursday.
Kick-off is at 9pm at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The former Bafana player Dikgacoi, who played in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010, believes there is massive potential in the Hugo Broos-coached squad.
The pressure will be on hosts Mexico to deliver all three points as a host nation, and underdogs Bafana can take advantage of that, he believes.
“We have a good squad. The lads have been together for a while, and that togetherness can make a major difference in a tournament,” Dikgacoi told SportsBoom.co.za.
“A draw, or even a win, is possible. The coach has picked a balanced team, ready to compete. I believe with this team we stand a chance of proceeding to the next round.”
“If we do that, we stand a real chance. Scoring first will silence the stadium and pile pressure on them.”
Bafana Bafana have never advanced beyond the group stage at a FIFA World Cup, but the one thing counting in their favour in their fourth appearance at the event is the new expanded format.
This year’s FIFA World Cup will be particularly kind to those sides that are unable to stand out right from the start.
As usual, the top two teams from the 12 groups will advance to the next round. However, for the first time, the eight best third-placed sides will also advance. It will be a new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Bafana will still have their work cut out, though. Drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, Korea Republic, and Czechia (Czech Republic), it’s difficult to see how Bafana will overcome these sides.
Mexico are 15th in the FIFA world rankings, Korea Republic are 25th, and Czechia are 41st. Where is Bafana ranked? 60th.
Fortunately for Bafana, games of football aren’t fought on paper, and the rankings won’t matter on match day.