Who are the countries standing in Bafana Bafana's way in the 2018 WC qualifiers
Bafana Bafana's Road to Russia campaign begins in earnest next month.
South Africa has been drawn in Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers together with Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands and Senegal.
The battle for top spot in the group and a place at the world's biggest football spectable starts with a visit to Burkina Faso, and in the last match of the qualifiers Bafana Bafana will host Senegal in November 2017.
Only one country will qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
Let's have an in-depth look at the at the nations that stand in the way of Bafana Bafana:
South Africa has met all three countries before in different competitions
Senegal is the highest ranked country in the group, occupying position 39 in the world, and 3rd on the continent. They are the only nation in the top 50 from this group
South Africa is next on position 62 in the world and 13th on the continent, while Burkina Faso is three places adrift on the continent (16th) and 67th in the world
Cape Verde Islands is the lowest ranked nation in this group on position 72 and 18 in the world and on the continent respectively
Bafana Bafana and Senegal are the only two countries who have been to a world cup tournament – with South Africa boasting three appearances, while Senegal has only been there once
Senegal and Burkina Faso will be at the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations tournament, while South Africa and Cape Verde Islands have not qualified.
Here's a quick look at all four countries:
Three appearances at the World Cup – France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010
Ranked 62nd in the world and 13th on the continent
Did not qualify for the Gabon AFCON
Senegal:
They have been to the world cup tournament on one occasion – the 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup
Currently ranked 39th in the world and 3rd on the continent
They will be making their 13th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon in 2017
Mashaba has faced Senegal three times – winning one match and drawing the other two
Senegal HEAD-TO-HEAD vs South Africa
P W D L GF GA
Burkina Faso:
Have never qualified for the World Cup tournament
Their seven previous attempts ended in disappointment
Ranked 67th in the world and 16th on the continent
Have qualified for Gabon AFCON and will be making their 10th appearance
Bafana Bafana have only lost once to Burkina Faso in seven outings
Burkina Faso HEAD-TO-HEAD vs South Africa
7 4 2 1 10 4
Cape Verde Islands:
Never been to the World Cup
Did not qualify for the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations tournament
Bafana Bafana have never lost to Cape Verde in three previous meetings
Cape Verde Islands HEAD-TO-HEAD vs South Africa