Mathew Rusike: Former Kaizer Chiefs striker suggests Bafana Bafana have won before entering the field which is not the right approach in football

Bafana Bafana seems to be sold out that a place in the knockout stages is already theirs.

The South African national football side see themselves beyond the group stages as a fait accompli.

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker, Mathew Rusike, cautions this thinking as he warns that tournament of such magnitudes are different to what preparation is.

“AFCON is a difficult tournament for any team. I think South Africa want to believe that they are group favorites but in the eyes of me and in the eyes of a lot of people they are not," Rusike said, as per Soccerladuma.

"I think the reality is, the tournament is in North Africa, Egypt has a great squad as well. South Africa have been doing well of late and did well at the last AFCON but it's not going to be as easy for them to just get out of the group.

"Zimbabwe, it won't be easy, Angola, of course. These are difficult games. We saw Bafana were not able to beat Zimbabwe recently. So in football the ball can go either way," the former Kaizer Chiefs striker said.

"So I think every team stands a chance of getting out of that group but I think the Egyptians are the favourites and I will support my Zimbabwean team. It is not as simple as it seems."

Bafana face Angola tomorrow in their opening match against Angola.