Head coach of South Africa Molefi Ntseko has warned Ghana that his outfit will be prepared for them in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana were pitted against rivals Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia in Group G of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday evening.
Only the group winners will advance to the final round of qualifying.
South Africa lost 2-0 to Ghana in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers last year in Cape Coast, but Ntseki says they’re going to prepare adequately to face the West Africa giants during the World Cup qualifiers.
"Every draw is a tough draw because the expectation is that all the teams in the top 40 (second round) are playing to qualify for the World Cup. So, we are fully aware of Ghana and their qualities coming into the qualifiers. We are fully aware of Zimbabwe, our neighbours," Ntseki told the media.
"We are also fully aware of Ethiopia (and) that they have done very well in winning their preliminary tie against Lesotho to be in the top 40.
"So all the teams which are in the group we will give them the same respect because they deserve to be at this stage of the qualifiers. It will be a tough one, but we are hopeful and we are looking forward to a good start in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup."
Bafana will take on Ghana having lost to the Black Stars away in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers late last year.
"I don't think it's good or bad, but it's all about the fixtures because we could have drawn any other team because Ghana was in the top 10. We had to draw any team in the top 10. So, we know what to expect from Ghana and they know what to expect from us," he continued.
"They have just appointed a new coach in Charles [Akonnor], so the team will be looking forward to impressing the coach.
"But the important thing is that we are going to play three games against Ghana. We are left with one match in the Afcon qualifiers and we are now going to play two games in the World Cup qualifiers.
"So, it will be a very interesting encounter against Ghana. The last time they took us to Cape Coast which was difficult for us when it comes to travelling and player recovery.
"This time we will go into this match knowing the conditions if they do take us to any other venue in Ghana.
"But it will be very interesting if you look at the quality players that Ghana have and the quality players that we have. It will be a very interesting fixture whenever we play against Ghana."
The second round qualifiers are scheduled to start in October this year and they will come to end in October 2021.