SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa have finished first and second in two African Nations Cup appearances and coach Trott Moloto believes more gold medals are a distinct possibility this time. While conceding that home advantage makes Ghana and Nigeria serious contenders, the man in charge of Bafana Bafana brims with confidence despite the absence of his leading strikers. Italy-based Philemon Masinga is injured and Benni McCarthy, the find of the 1998 finals, has opted out of international football to try and revive a flagging career with Spanish club Celta Vigo when the squad was named. An indifferent qualifying campaign saw Bafana Bafana beat Angola, Gabon and Mauritius at home, but have to settle for draws in Port Louis and Luanda and lose to a last-minute penalty in Libreville. Moloto completes his contract after the Nations Cup and a top-four finish should earn him a role in the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign. Anything less and the local media will renew calls for his head.

Coach

Trott Moloto

Squad

Alex Bapela

Andre Arendse

Daniel Mudau

Dumisa Ngobe

Eric Tinkler

Frank Schoeman

Glen Salmon

Hans Vonk

Helman Mkhalele

Isaac Shai

John Moshoeu

John Tlale

Lucas Radebe

Mark Fish

Papi Khomane

Pierre Issa

Pollen Ndlanya

Quinton Fortune

Shaun Bartlett

Siyabonga Nomvete

Steve Lekoelea

Thabo Mngomeni