As Bafana Bafana prepare to take on Mexico in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup on Thursday evening, French football legend Frank Leboeuf has backed South Africa’s Lyle Foster to deliver the goods in attack.
The clash takes place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with kick-off at 9pm SA time.
It is a rematch, 16 years to the day, of the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
On that occasion, Siphiwe Tshabalala was the hero for the Rainbow Nation with his famous strike before Mexico later equalised in a memorable encounter. This time, Bafana will look to Foster to set the tone up front, according to the 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Leboeuf.
Lyle Foster’s Leadership for Burnley and South Africa’s Group A Challenge
“If you play in the Premier League, like Lyle Foster does, it is because you are a great player. There are many great players in the best league in the world,” said Leboeuf, speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest World Cup odds.
“Being signed by a Premier League club says a lot. If Foster can show the way to success or confidence to his teammates, that would be great. He needs to be a leader and hopefully he will behave like that and show the way.”
Bafana will still have their work cut out, though. Drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, Korea Republic, and Czechia, it is difficult to see how South Africa will overcome all three sides.
Mexico are 15th in the FIFA world rankings, Korea Republic are 25th, and Czechia are 41st. Bafana, by comparison, are ranked 60th.
Fortunately for South Africa, football matches are not won on paper, and the rankings will count for very little once the action gets underway.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
