2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers Procedure
Bafana Bafana are up against Angola in Round Two of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers and we look at what it will take for them to make it all the way to the showpiece event.
Bafana qualified for Round Two by virtue of being one of the 27 highest ranked sides in Africa, whilst the 26 lowest ranked countries had to battle it out in Round One, with the 13 winners advancing to Round 2.
Round Two sees the 40 teams (the 13 winners plus the 27 automatic qualifiers) paired into 20 ties with a home and an away leg for each tie.
In Round Three the 20 teams that qualify from Round Two will be drawn into five groups consisting of four teams each.
The teams will all play each other twice in home and away fixtures with the five group winners securing qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Is World Cup Qualification A Realistic Goal For Bafana?
It has been 13 years since Bafana Bafana played in a FIFA World Cup that they qualified for. As hosts of the 2010 World Cup, Bafana did not have to go through qualification, getting a 'free pass' to the tournament.
Looking at the current state of the national team, how serious are SAFA and Shakes Mashaba really with regard to qualifying for the biggest event in football?
Over the course of the last year, Bafana failed to make their mark on the continent and as a powerhouse in Africa, the national team has been way below par.
We can look at tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the CHAN showpiece as a barometer of Bafana’s success this past year. Chan is considered one of the lowest ranked competitions in Africa and, in hindsight, it should have been a walk in the park for Bafana. Instead, the team failed to make the final tournament after dropping out in the qualifying rounds.
Earlier this year, Bafana did ever so well to qualify for Afcon but when results were needed, fans were let down after failing to make the knockout phase of the competition. They then followed it up with a dismal start to qualifying for the next Afcon.
With World Cup qualification now on the horizon, fans have hardly been excited at the prospect of Bafana taking part in the tournament because of their failings this year.
Bucs Legend: These Players Don’t Have Commitment, Love, Passion…
Patson Banda Talks About What Is Missing From The Derby
Orlando Pirates legendary former goalkeeper, Patson ‘Sparks’ Banda, gives his assessment of what is wrong with modern day footballers ahead of the upcoming Soweto Derby.
The Buccaneers go head-to-head with Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium this coming Saturday in the PSL and again a week later in the Telkom Knockout semi-finals.
Banda spoke to Soccer Laduma and gave his thoughts on the fixture, pointing out what he thinks has changed over the years.
“Supporters were there to watch individuals and not the teams! During that time, a week before the derby they would be talking about it on the corner of Eloff and Kerk Street, and everywhere else,” Banda told Soccer Laduma.
“Those two teams’ supporters played the game before the game had actually been played. By the time the game arrived, the atmosphere created by the supporters themselves was high.
“The expectations were also high because of the class of football they were going to see. They were not really there to see Pirates or Chiefs play; they were there to see their ‘creators’ perform under the banner of both teams.
"Those creators are actually not creating anything for the supporters today, I’m sorry to say. There’s money… there’s everything… but the commitment, the love of the game, that passion... they don’t have it. Those things are what makes the game what it is.”
Standings
| # | Group | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bidvest Wits |
7
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
16
|
| 02 | Platinum Stars |
7
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
6
|
15
|
| 03 | Mpumalanga Black Aces |
8
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
15
|
| 04 | Kaizer Chiefs |
8
|
3
|
5
|
0
|
8
|
14
|
| 05 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
8
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
14
|
| 06 | Bloemfontein Celtic |
8
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
14
|
| 07 | Golden Arrows |
8
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
14
|
| 08 | Ajax Cape Town |
7
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
11
|
| 09 | Free State Stars |
7
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
10
|
| 10 | Chippa United |
8
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
-2
|
10
|
| 11 | SuperSport United |
8
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
-4
|
8
|
| 12 | Polokwane City |
8
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
-6
|
6
|
| 13 | Orlando Pirates |
7
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
-2
|
5
|
| 14 | University Of Pretoria |
7
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
-5
|
5
|
| 15 | Jomo Cosmos |
7
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
-4
|
4
|
| 16 | Maritzburg United |
7
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
-12
|
1
|
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