International Friendly Preview: South Africa - Cameroon

This match sees South Africa host top African team Cameroon at Olympia Park in Rustenburg for the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup in a mouthwatering encounter taking place at one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup venues.

Bafana Hat-Trick

Bafana come into this match off the back of a string of wins against fellow African teams including their latest over continental heavyweights Ghana. The win over Ghana was Bafana's third in succession and gives under-pressure coach Joel Santana some breathing space as he prepares his squad for next June's Confederations Cup, to be held in the country.

The winning strike was once again provided by Bafana super-sub Bernard Parker in the 78th minute. It was the Thanda Royal Zulu striker's third goal in as many matches for his country and the player will be looking to impress against Cameroon as well. Santana made a couple of changes from the team that beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in their final 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier last weekend.

The Brazilian decided to start with veteran goalkeeper Brian Baloyi in place of Kaizer Chiefs youngster Itumeleng Khune.Ghana scored against the run of play in the 39th minute, but Bafana were level within a minute when McCarthy got onto the end of a clever Modise cross and slammed home the equaliser - his 31st international goal.

Parker settled the game 12 minutes from time to hand Bafana the victory. Santana stated that he would be finalising his squad to play at the Confederations Cup by December. The Confederations Cup is the dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup finals and will be played in June next year in South Africa where FIFA and the 2010 Local Organising Committee will use the tournament to address any problems ahead of the 2010 football showpiece event 12 months later.

The win against Ghana will have given Bafana confidence ahead of this encounter with the mighty Cameroon, and they will be boosted by the fact that Benni McCarthy looks set to play up front against the Indomitable Lions.

Africa's Top Team

South Africa take on Cameroon, the highest ranked African country in the FIFA world rankings. For their part, they dropped two places from 12 to 14 in the latest list.

The Indomitable Lions provide a tall order for the South Africans, who are keen to win the Cup named after their inspirational former president. Compared to the Cameroonians, South Africa moved from 85 to 80 in the ranking, displaying the difference in quality between the two sides. Ominously for the Bafanam, Samuel Eto'o has been picked in the Cameroon squad for Wednesday's encounter.

Arguably Africa's most acclaimed current player and Barcelona star, Eto'o was in the Barca team that narrowly beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in South Africa two years ago, but it was thought that Spain's popular Catalan giants might stand in the way of Eto'o making a return appearance in South Africa for a friendly fixture.

Cameroon also boast the likes of striker Archille Webo, veteran skipper and tough-as-teak Rigobert Song who plays in Turkey for Trabzonspor, Newcastle United defender Geremi, French-based midfielders Jean Makoun, Modeste Mbami and the two Spanish-based midfielders, Daniel Ngom Kome and Frank Songo'o.

Cameroon have come from a long list of matches without a loss and their confidence is high ahead of this match up. The last official game that the side have lost came in the final of the African Nations Cup against Egypt.

FORM GUIDE

South Africa

15 October: South Africa 2-1 Ghana

11 October: Equatorial Guinea 0 - 1 South Africa

30 September: South Africa 3-0 Malawi

09 September: South Africa 1-0 Guinea

06 September: South Africa 0-1 Nigeria

Cameroon

11 October: Cameroon 5-0 Mauritius

06 August: Cape Verde Islands 1-2 Cameroon

21 June: Cameroon 2-1 Tanzania

14 June: Tanzania 0-0 Cameroon

08 June: Mauritius 0-3 Cameroon

TEAM NEWS

South Africa

Santana named only three strikers in the squad, with Benni McCarthy of Blackburn Rovers, Thanda Royal Zulu skipper Bernard Parker and SuperSport United's Katlego Mphela getting the nod. Blackburn Rovers' goal-getter McCarthy has agreed to play despite burying his father in Cape Town on Saturday.

The bad news is that Everton playmaker Steven Pienaar failed a late fitness test at his club and will not take part in the match. Classy right winger Elrio van Heerden of Club Brugge has returned to the squad after recovering from injury and will strengthen the Bafana midfield.

Squad: Brian Baloyi, Itumeleng Khune; Matthew Booth, Bradley Carnell, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Nasief Morris, Aaron Mokoena; Lance Davids, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Teko Modise, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Masilo Modubi, Thabo Nthethe, Siyabonga Nkosi, Macbeth Sibaya, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala,
Elrio van Heerden; Benni McCarthy, Bernard Parker, Katlego Mphela.

Cameroon

South Africans will soon have a second opportunity to see three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o in action, during Wednesday's game against Bafana Bafana at Rustenburg's Olympia Park, as the striker has been picked for this Nelson Mandela Challenge. The Cameroon FA have stuck by their promise to bring a star-filled side and coach Otto Pfister named a full-strength squad for the game.

Squad: Rigobert Song, Samuel Eto'o, Geremi Njitap, Idriss Carlos Kameni, Jean II Makoun, Modeste Mbami, Andre Bikey, Augustin Gilles Binya, Pierre Wome, Souleymanou Hamidou, Achille Webo, Achille Emana, Albert Meyond Ze, Daniel Ngom Kome, Eric Djemba Djemba, Alexis Ngambi, Guy Stephane Essame, Dorge Rostard Kouemaha, Somen A Tchoyi, Franck Songo'o.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa

Bernard Parker has scored three goals so far for the South African national team with a brace in their 3-0 win over Malawi and the winner in the 2-1 victory against Ghana recently. He is currently the South African PSL's leading goalscorer and had been linked with a move to Manchester City but no deal materialised.

Cameroon

Samuel Eto'o is clearly Cameroon's most impressive and well known player, and the three-time African Footballer of the Year has made a name for himself in Spain for giants Barcelona, playing alongside superstars Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry in La Liga. His speed, skill and killer finishing has caused problems for many a defender. Earning his first cap for Cameroon at 14, the 27-year-old Eto'o has regained his best form this season for his Catalan club.

PREDICTION

South Africa will be hoping that home advantage helps to level the playing field in this game, but the quality and strength of the Cameroon players cannot be overlooked. Both teams are near full strength and an interesting encounter awaits, but perhaps Bafana can squeeze a draw out of the Indomitable Lions, unless the South Africans are overpowered early in the game.

South Africa 1-1 Cameroon

Peter Pedroncelli