Maritzburg – Mauritania have set the date for next month\u2019s African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa and will host Bafana Bafana in Nouakchott on Saturday\u201a September 5 at 5pm local time (6pm SA time).<\/p>\n
In terms of the competition rules\u201a home federations can decide whether to play either on Friday\u201a Saturday or Sunday\u201a but must fix the time and date of the encounter at least two weeks before the match and inform the opposing team\u2019s football association.<\/p>\n
It will be the first trip to the arid north African nation for South Africa\u201a who got off to a poor start in their bid to qualify for the 2017 finals in the Gabon after being held to a goalless draw in Durban in their opening Group M match by lowly Gambia.<\/p>\n
Mauritania\u201a among the lowest-ranked African countries at 181st in the latest Fifa standings\u201a put up a surprise showing in their opener by holding Cameroon goalless until the last minute of their match in Yaounde and then losing 1-0.<\/p>\n
Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba will be able to start assembling his squad on Sunday\u201a August 30\u201a and then have a full week to work with them\u201a including travel to west Africa before the match.<\/p>\n
South Africa\u2019s crunch qualifiers in the group against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are to be played in March. \u2013 The Times<\/p>\n
Source: RDM News Wire.<\/p>\n