Nelson Mandela Challenge 2018
South Africa vs Paraguay
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Tuesday, November 20
th 2018
Kick-off at 19:00 (7pm) CAT
Bafana Bafana, fresh off the back of a hugely important point against Nigeria that took Stuart Baxter’s Boys one step closer to AFCON 2019, will welcome Paraguay to the Rainbow Nations for the 24
th edition of the
Nelson Mandela Challenge – an annual event (with the exception of 2017) which is organised to raise money for the former president’s charity.
South Africa are the defending champions after beating Egypt 1-0 in 2016 and have won the last three staging’s. This will be only the third time that a South American team will grace the competition since Argentina and Brasil visited the country in consecutive years back in 1995 and 1996.
South Africa had to come from behind in their crunch encounter against the Super Eagles on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten record in Group E of
African Cup of Nations Qualifiers although they trail Nigeria by a solitary point still needing to secure at least a draw when they travel to Libya in the final group game in March next year in order to book their spot at the competition. France-based Strasbourg striker Lebo Mothiba scored the equaliser on the weekend to take his international tally to four goals in just five matches, adding to the eight goals scored in 13 matches for his Ligue 1 club.
South Africa recent results:
17/11/2018 – South Africa 1-1 Nigeria
16/10/2018 – Seychelles 0-0 South Africa
13/10/2018 – South Africa 6-0 Seychelles
08/09/2018 – South Africa 0-0 Libya
Paraguay head into this one-off friendly international fixture still seeking their first win of the calendar year despite playing just two matches. Los Guaranies narrowly missed out on a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia following a final day defeat at home against Venezuela. Their most recognisable name on the teamsheet is arguably Real Betis forward Antonio Sanabria. The 22-year-old has one international goal to his name in 11 appearances, sealing a first victory in Colombia in nearly ten years, although he is yet to find the back of the net in seven matches in Spain’s La Liga so far this season.
Paraguay recent results:
12/06/2018 – Japan 4-2 Paraguay
27/03/2018 – USA 1-0 Paraguay
10/10/2017 – Paraguay 0-1 Venezuela
05/10/2017 – Colombia 1-2 Paraguay
Monday’s meeting will be the fourth between the pair, and Paraguay’s first appearance in the Mandela Challenge, since first facing off at the FIFA World Cup in 2002 when Bafana Bafana came back from two goals down to secure a memorable 2-2 draw.
South Africa vs Paraguay head to head: (including friendlies)
Played: 4
South Africa Wins: 1
Draws: 2
Paraguay Wins: 1
South Africa Goals: 6
Paraguay Goals: 5
The last encounter between the duo ended in a 1-1 friendly stalemate during South Africa’s build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup on home soil. Simphiwe Tshabalala was on the scoresheet for the visitors in the second-half after Marcelo Estigarribia had put the hosts in front in the first half.
South Africa vs Paraguay results:
31/03/2010 – Paraguay 1-1 South Africa
26/03/2008 – South Africa 3-0 Paraguay
17/09/2002 – Paraguay 2-0 South Africa
02/06/2002 – Paraguay 2-2 South Africa
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