With just one point from their opening two AFCON 2017 qualifying games, Bafana Bafana’s back-to-back matches against Cameroon are of huge importance.

The first game takes place on Saturday, 26 March, at the Limbe Omnisports Stadium, Limbe, the return match scheduled for the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, March 29.

Bafana Bafana’s two qualifying games to date saw them drawing 0-0 at home to Gambia, before losing 3-1 away to Mauritania, leaving the South Africans rooted to the foot of the Group M standings.

Two 1-0 victories meanwhile sees the Indomitable Lions atop of the standings with six points, followed by Mauritania with three points, and Gambia with one.

The group winners automatically qualify for AFCON 2017, while the two best placed runners up (of the 13 groups) also go through.

Shakes Mashaba’s side can take heart from what is a very decent record against Cameroon, whom they have beaten three times and only lost once to, on seven previous meetings:

7/7/92 - SA (Khumalo) 1-0 Cameroon

9/7/92 - SA (Onana OG) 1-2 Cameroon (Ewane 2)

11/7/92 - SA (P Masinga, B Masinga) 2-2 Cameroon (Pagal, Ewane)

3/12/94 - SA (Motale) 1-1 Cameroon (Maboang)

13/1/96 - SA (P Masinga, Williams, Moshoeu) 3-0 Cameroon

19/11/08 - SA (Modise 2, Parker) 3-2 Cameroon (Kome, Tchoyi)

10/01/15 - Cameroon (Aboubacar) 1-1 SA (Vilakazi)

Team news:

The west African team could be going through a bit of an adjustment period, having replaced former head coach Volker Finke with Hugo Broos just last month.

Cameroon also also expected to be without Schalke forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, while former Ajax Cape Town midfielder Eyong Enoh, now with Belgium side Standard Liege, is also ruled out through injury.

Bafana meanwhile have a near clean bill of health – the likes of Thabo Matlaba, Anele Ngcongca, Rivaldo Coetzee, Andile Jali and Kamohelo Mokotjo all given the green light this week after recovering from niggling injuries.

What they are saying:

South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune:

“We are pretty much aware that we are not in a very good position, but we all know as players that we have 12 points to play for and if we can win all our remaining games we can end up with 13 points.

“If you look at it that could be enough to secure a place in Gabon. I think it is possible because we have players capable of producing the required results.

“Things are looking good, players are very confident and we are looking forward to the two games. We know we are playing against tough opposition – players who in big leagues in Europe, but I think we will be able to match them.”

Cameroon boss Hugo Broos:

"My first contact with the team has been good. The difficulty now will be remembering the names and faces of the players! I met with the group and there are no additional injuries.

"We'll put out a team that is ready and will fight to the last minute," he added. "Then we'll see - this is football."