South Africa’s hopes of playing at next year’s FIFA World Cup rests squarely on tomorrow’s match against surprise group leaders, Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. The Bafana Bafana recorded their most impressive result under Coach Gordon Igesund last weekend when they defeated Central Africa Republic 3-0 on a neutral ground of Yahonde, Cameroon to move to eight points on the log, two points adrift of leaders, Ethiopia after four rounds of matches.

Ethiopia’s 2-1 defeat to Botswana away from home earned them 10 points and within a victory of progressing into the next phase of qualifying. A victory for the Walia Antelopes at home against Bafana Bafana tomorrow will automatically guarantee them a place in the final phase of the qualifier and eliminate 2010 World Cup hosts from reaching Brazil 2014. A draw will also favour Ethiopia as well, meaning that anything shorter than victory for the Bafana Bafana will put their qualifying hopes out of control.

Ethiopian striker Fikru Tefera, who is known to South African football fans for his spells in the South African League, believes his side will triumph and secure a place in the next round. “South Africa is not going anywhere. Actually they must just forget about the World Cup because there is absolutely no way that they will win against us at home,” he told Kickoff.

“We will beat them and go on to massacre CAR in our last game to finish as the group leaders. Actually we want to finish off this group this weekend by beating Bafana.”

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