Shakes Mashaba’s side will seal their place at the continental showpiece with two games to spare if they can claim a victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
A win would take the side to 10 points in the pool and ensure they could not finish below second in the group, enough to book a place in Morocco. The top two teams in each group qualify automatically for the finals, as well as the best third-place finisher.
Congo could still finish above Bafana if they lose their last two matches to Sudan (home) and Nigeria (away), but those victories for Claude Le Roy’s side would mean the other two teams in the pool could not get enough points to overhaul Bafana.
If Nigeria win their remaining three matches, including tonight’s home game against Sudan, they will also go to 10 points, but that would mean neither Sudan nor Congo could reach that mark and overtake Bafana in second.
The Super Eagles would lead the pool on head-to-head record over Bafana, though it is of little consequence who finishes top.
As unlikely as it may seem, Sudan could go to 12 points by winning their three remaining games, one each against the other group opponents, but then neither Nigeria nor Congo could catch Bafana.
So, should Bafana win tonight, they can feel free to do the Hlokoloza Dance without any fallout after the game …
