Bafana Bafana target a winning start against Angola to align with their lofty AFCON goals

When Bafana Bafana kick off their AFCON campaign against Angola on Monday evening, the team will be fired up to deliver a performance aligning with their lofty aspirations.

Both teams know the significance of this opening Group F tournament encounter, which Sudanese referee Mahmood Ismail will officiate in Marrakech. Securing maximum points from the very start will be key to building momentum on the road to continental glory.

Angola, a rising force in African football, is not participating in this tournament by chance. They emerged as one of the standout surprise packages in the last Afcon held in the Ivory Coast, impressively finishing at the top of a challenging group that included heavyweights Algeria and Burkina Faso.

Their remarkable run in the last tournament culminated in a quarter-final finish, demonstrating that they are a well-organised side under the guidance of coach Patrice Beaumelle, known for their defensive resilience and potential to spring upsets.

Bafana Bafana enters AFCON riding high after a stellar performance last year in the Ivory Coast, where they achieved their best result in over two decades, finishing third after eliminating pre-tournament favourites Morocco.

Coach Hugo Broos, who has revitalised the team's fortunes and knows the winning formula at this level, having led Cameroon to the trophy in 2017, faces heightened expectations as his squad advances into this tournament.

Having stumbled at the start in their previous outing with an opening defeat to Mali, Bafana Bafana understands the critical importance of a strong start against Angola. The current competition landscape is fierce, and anything less than three points would be met with disappointment from a squad that has now grown accustomed to winning.

Strategically, South Africa's game plan revolves around a straightforward yet effective 4-4-1-1 formation. Under Broos' management, the team relies on key players such as Ronwen Williams, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule, and Lyle Foster to form its backbone.

Bafana Bafana are expected to adopt a patient build-up play but are capable of injecting urgency when necessary. Broos' surprise tactics promise to make the team an unpredictable challenge for opponents.

On paper, South Africa holds a slight edge, ranked 11th in Africa compared to Angola's 18th, yet tournament rankings can sometimes misrepresent the true competitiveness of matchups in the Afcon's relentless environment. With Angola potentially disrupting the flow, this opening match promises a fiercely contested battle.

As kick-off approaches, hopes rest on South Africa asserting themselves early and utilising their superior depth and experience. If they successfully harness their strengths and capitalise on early opportunities, a convincing victory by two goals or more, perhaps 2-0 or 3-1, seems achievable.

The stage is set for an explosive start to the Africa Cup of Nations, as Bafana Bafana prepares to face Angola, a team driven by surprising momentum and resilience.

South Africa will aim to deliver the performance their fans crave, and not allow Angola's underdog spirit to create a shock result. They have the solid form to produce a promising start and rise above Angola's resilience, to spoil the party.