Bafana Bafana will be aiming to roll back the years when they tackle Cameroon in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at Olympia Park, Rustenburg on Wednesday night. Kick-off is at 8.30pm.

It was on July 7, 1992 when South Africa kicked their first ball in international soccer after readmission to world body FIFA and thanks to an 82nd minute Doctor Khumalo penalty, defeated Cameroon 1-0 at a packed Kings Park Rugby Stadium.

That was a glorious night and although the Indomitable Lions brought a second string side to play in a three match series to introduce South Africa back to world soccer, it was literally what the doctor ordered for the fledgling South Africans.

That series was shared with each team winning once and the other game ending in a 2-2 draw. But South Africa had arrived on the world stage by holding Cameroon, who had two years earlier reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup where they were beaten 3-2 after extra time by a shell-shocked England.

Bafana also scored one of their best wins ever when they thumped Cameroon 3-0 in the opening match of the 1996 African Nations Cup finals and Bafana went on to lift the trophy on home soil.

But times have changed and Bafana have slumped to an all-time low in 2008.

Cameroon are ranked 14th in the world with Bafana at 80th. Bafana badly need to make amends for failing to qualify for the 2010 Afcon finals in Angola and a win over star studded Cameroon would build confidence for next June's Confederations Cup.

Bafana are on a three-match winning streak, having beaten a second string Malawi 3-0 in Germiston, scored a hard fought 1-0 away win in Equatorial Guinea to salvage some pride from a disastrous Afcon qualifying campaign last month, and then beating an emerging Ghana side 2-0 in Bloemfontein.

But under-fire national head coach Joel Santana knows this is the game that will tell him if he is making progress as he claims or not.

Cameroon, with the likes of Barcelona world superstar Samuel Eto'o, fellow Spanish based 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, Modest Mbami plus the two Spanish based midfielders, Daniel Ngom Kome and Frank Songo'o, will test Bafana to the hilt.

Said Santana: "This is the real test for us. Cameroon who we all know are a top class side. This is the sort of opposition we need to prepare for next June's Confederation Cup and for the ultimate mission the 2010 World Cup. We can end the year with a win over one of the best sides in Africa."

The jury is still out on Santana who, despite the three recent wins which have helped build up confidence in the players ranks, still looks to be a coach who is making it up as he goes along.

He selected only three strikers in Benni McCarthy of Blackburn Rovers, Thanda Royal Zulu captain Bernard Parker and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela.

Had Santana and his technical team looked more carefully at what is available, he would have found out that Israel-based Terror Fanteni has rediscovered his goal-scoring form, while how he could have overlooked Golden Arrows' Richard Henyekane, who has scored 10 goals so far at club level, is a mystery.

But the fact that McCarthy has decided to play after he buried his father in Cape Town on Saturday is a major boost for Bafana. McCarthy is by far Bafana's best player at present and his presence will lift those around him after the huge personal sacrifice he has made.

But Bafana suffered a blow when English Premiership outfit Everton failed to release midfield ace Steven Pienaar claiming he is injured. Pienaar would have been in his element against the likes of Eto'o, Song and Geremi. But his absence means the up and coming Orlando Pirates starlet, Thulasizwe Mbuyane who has been banging in goals for the Buccaneers, might get a chance.

His Bucs teammate, Teko Modise, will be asked to boss the midfield.

The good news for Bafana is the return from injury of midfielder Elrio van Heerden who plays in Belgium for Club Brugge.

Van Heerden has looked the part of an international player every time he puts on a Bafana jersey and he could provide the ammunition for McCarthy to open up what looks to be a solid Cameroon defence.

Sapa

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