Africa regains confidence after crushing Equatorial Guinea 4-1

JOHANNESBURG, June 8 (Xinhua) -- New South African national football team (locally known as Bafana Bafana) coach Joel Santana is starting to weave his magic after his side demolished Equatorial Guinea 4-1 in their Group Four 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier on Saturday.

The good news from Bafana manager Sipho Nkumane is that skipper Aaron Mokoena who left the battle in the 78th minute with a left shin injury will be fit to lead his men into their tough away qualifier against Sierra Leone in Free Town this Sunday.

But Mokoena's central defensive partner Bevan Fransman may miss the trip to Free Town after he suffered a concussion that forced him to leave the field in the 25th minute.

Said Nkumane: "Fransman was kept in hospital on Saturday night for observation. Mokoena should be fit by the weekend."

After savoring his first win in charge of his new side, Santana was worried about injuries to both his central defenders.

"I will see on Monday when we reassemble for camp how serious the injuries are," said Santana.

"Losing both central defenders would be a terrible blow. We have already lost one central defender (Nasief Morris) so hopefully both will be okay by the weekend."

Morris who plays for Greek giants Panathanaikos underwent an operation in the off-season and misses the four qualifiers this month.

Santana was holding court after the match and insisted on practicing his new English on reporters.

He said through his broken English: "It is normal to feel happy when I win.

"I am very happy today, not just me, but for the players, the fans and the newspapers who now have something positive to write about."

But Santana said he was not getting carried away after this one sided win.

He said: "I have only been here in the country for 15 days and have had less than two weeks with the players. The first match away to Nigeria was tough but things are improving and yes I will go home happy tonight. It was a really good all round performance."

Bafana were outgunned 2-0 by the Super Eagles in Abuja last Sunday while Equatorial Guinea beat Sierra Leone by the same score at home that same afternoon.

He said that he was starting to understand his players more and they were starting to understand his methods and tactics.

Santana said he changed to a more attacking system and it worked.

He laughed off a question on the competency of Senegal referee Samba Abdou Diouf who had a nightmare game climaxing in the 77th minute when he awarded Equatorial Guinea the softest of penalties when he adjudged Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune to have brought down Pablo Armando inside the penalty area.

Juvenal slotted home the gift penalty making the score 3-1.

Said Santana with a big smile: "If I talk about the referee my happy mood will disappear. It was never a penalty. But I don't want to spoil the mood by talking about the referee."

The referee made another big blunder when he adjudged Equatorial Guinea's Eputie Dyowe offside after the striker had scored in injury time.

Barring injuries and depending on how quickly both Mokoena and Fransman recover, Santana said he would use the same side that easily beat Equatorial Guinea against Sierra Leone.

He was happy how Man of the Match Teko Modise and Steven Pienaar combined in midfield. Both were superb.

"But," added Santana, "The two defensive midfielders Macbeth Sibaya and Kagisho Dikgacoi were fantastic the way they supported the attackers."

Dikgacoi had a blinder scoring the opening and last goal.

Santana looks to have laid the Benni McCarthy ghost to rest with the pairing of Terror Fanteni and Surprise Moriri in attack who each scored.

"I was pleased with the way both Moriri and Fanteni played," said Santana.

"They looked good and could develop a good understanding and combination."

But now that Santana has shown a bit of the magic touch, Bafanafans will want him to continue and keep the road to Angola in 2010 firmly in his sights.