Sibisi declares ‘war’ as Bafana approach Zambia friendly

Bafana Bafana defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has issued a clear statement of intent ahead of Saturday’s international friendly against COSAFA rivals Zambia, asserting that for the national side, there is “no such thing as a friendly game.”

The two nations clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha as both accelerate preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco this December.

With expectations skyrocketing after Bafana’s commendable third-place finish at the last AFCON, coach Hugo Broos is using this fixture to assess new call-ups and fine-tune his tactical combinations. According to Sibisi, the approach will be far from relaxed.

No Friendly Fire: Sibisi Explains Bafana’s ‘War’ Mentality vs. Zambia

“We totally agree with the coach, there is no such thing as a friendly game,” the Orlando Pirates captain stated emphatically. “As soon as you wear that jersey and you are on that field, it’s war, but a peaceful war. So, come Saturday, all guns blazing.”

This aggressive mindset underscores the team’s commitment to arriving in Morocco as a fully prepared unit, aiming to end the nation’s drought for a continental title that stretches back to 1996.

While the focus remains intensely on the immediate task, the backdrop of AFCON selection is unavoidable, with every player vying to impress Coach Broos and secure a final tournament berth.

Orlando Pirates defender Sibisi insists that this internal competition is a constant motivator. “The motivation is always the same whenever we are in camp, whether we are playing a friendly game or a qualifier,” he explained.

“We have always trained as if it were our last session because we don’t take it for granted to be here. It is always a privilege to be here, and you have to earn your spot to play.”

Despite the fierce competition, the immediate objective remains Chipolopolo. “For us, it is just about taking one game at a time. We know we have a mammoth task against Zambia at home,” Sibisi added. “It is always nice to play against your neighbour,s but for us it’s a matter of continuity. To get momentum is always difficult, so we are trying to keep it within the group.”