CONFIDENCE: Afcon bronze winners face European minnows Andorra and four days later African giants Algeria in friendlies

By Sports Reporter

Bafana Bafana will play Andorra in one of their FIFA Series international friendlies next week. After playing Andorra, Hugo Broos’ charges will face their African counterparts Algeria four days later.

Bafana go into friendly games brimming with confidence following their successful African Cup of Nations(Afcon) campaign. South Africa finished third in the continental tournament, for the first time since 2000. Most players who represented the country in Ivory Coast last month have been selected and will feature in both games. Broos has also brought in new faces as he looks to build towards the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Bafana Bafana will play Andorra at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Algeria next Thursday 21 March. This will be the first time the SA national soccer team has played a European team since their 5-0 defeat to France.

Andorra will bring a minimal threat to the South African defence as they are ranked 165 in the FIFA rankings. The Europeans have lost five straight games and have not won an official match since 2022.

The team has enjoyed very little success due to the Principality’s tiny population, the fifth smallest of any UEFA country (only Liechtenstein, San Marino, Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands are smaller).

Andorra’s first official game was a 6–1 defeat in a friendly match to Estonia in 1996. Since the qualifying rounds for the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament, Andorra have competed in qualifying for every European Championship and World Cup but have had very little success. They have only won thirteen matches since becoming recognised by FIFA in 1996.

On paper, Bafana should decimate Andorra by a huge margin as they did with Namibia in the Afcon. Having lost to Mali in the opener, Broos’ men bounced back and destroyed Namibia 4-0 in their second group match.

The Tricolours will not be pushovers as they compete regularly in the Nations Cup and Euro qualifiers against top teams. Bafana lost to low-ranked Rwanda late last year and if one expected Broos to have an easy outing, think again.

Andorra has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup or a Euro but have won two games at last year’s Nation League tournament.

After Thursday’s match, Bafana play host Algeria on Sunday looking to get one over their North African rivals.

RED SUNDAY

FA CUP TIE: The potential inclusion of recently absent members of Man United squad is likely to put a smile on Erik’s face but the boss maintains that the match against Liverpool will be tough

By Sports Reporter

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is growing in confidence that he will have more options available for the big Emirates FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool.

The boss revealed in Friday’s pre-Everton press conference that there was a chance Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund could all return to fitness in time to face the Merseysiders next Sunday.

In a promising update, delivered to Talksport, Ten Hag said Wan-Bissaka has trained at Carrington already as he prepares to potentially make a first appearance since the 2-2 draw against Tottenham in mid-January.

“Hopefully, some return,” he said. “Aaron Wan-Bissaka was, yesterday, on the pitch. We expect also Harry Maguire back in the squad next week. Rasmus Hojlund has good hope he will make it as well.”

Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford proved their fitness ahead of the 2-0 victory over the Toffees, although the former did come off towards the end, with Willy Kambwala taking his place.

Omari Forson was absent due to injury but we await further updates from the boss in the build-up to a huge clash on the road to Wembley. The potential inclusion of recently absent members of his squad is likely to put a smile on Erik’s face, but the boss maintains that the match against Liverpool will be tough, and one United must be ready for.

“It’s clear. It’s a great game for us and we are looking forward to that game,” he added. “But Liverpool will be the same and will also look forward [to it] as, for them, it’s also a very important game.

“We will plan it, prepare very well and we have to get ready for the game. It’s a huge game and a derby game, which we want to be in.” Manchester United’s squad has been boosted by the welcome return of Aaron Wan-Bissaka ahead of Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The defender was pictured on the training pitches at Carrington on Tuesday morning, along with midfielder Mason Mount, who has also been absent for the Reds of late.

Wan-Bissaka hasn’t featured for United since our 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in January and, with Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire all ruled out at present, it is a welcome boost for Erik ten Hag’s backline to see him back out on the grass with the team.

Victor Lindelof, who is naturally a centre-back, has been deputising at left-back in recent weeks but Wan-Bissaka’s return is likely to provide further flexibility for Erik, given he and Diogo Dalot have played at both full-back spots this term.

It remains to be seen whether Aaron or Mason will be in the matchday squad for the visit of Jurgen Klopp’s men this weekend, but the timing of their returns is crucial for United, ahead of a busy run-in.

On Saturday, Erik indicated that he hoped Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund may be available for Sunday’s tie, in addition to Wan-Bissaka.