However, Bafana Bafana will play in the finals regardless of their performance in the qualifiers.
It will be Bafana Bafana's third meeting with the Indian Ocean islanders inside a year.
"Bafana miss but SA scores, " proclaimed The Star following Sunday's Group A game against Iraq.
They handed the captain's armband to Benni McCarthy in recognition of his 50th appearance for Bafana Bafana.
Mngomeni plays for Swedish side Helsingborg and has also played in World Cup qualifiers for Bafana Bafana.
Bafana Bafana will be based for the tournament at the Southern Sun hotel in the northern Johannesburg suburb Sandton.
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The former Leeds United and Bafana Bafana player was taken to hospital last week after collapsing at the gym.
If this is the mother of all tournaments, Bafana Bafana is virtually motherless.
The Bafana Bafana meet Cape Verde in their opening tie on 6 June.
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The Bafana-Bafana player said the international mix of players at Ajax has helped him to settle into Dutch football quickly.
The match is the third game for Bafana Bafana before they resume their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign in June.
Mabizela missed Bafana Bafana's last match, a vital 1-0 win over Uganda in the World Cup qualifiers, because of suspension.
The young boy boldly declared that Bafana Bafana would win against the Black Stars, to the cheers of all present.
Bafana Bafana continued to dominate the early exchanges and it was against the run of play when Australia took the lead.
After an uninspiring first hour of the match, 'Bafana Bafana' took a shock lead in the 73rd minute through substitute Katlego Mphela.
Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane is also sweating on the fitness of World Cup star Siphiwe Tshabalala, who has a hamstring problem.
But the match did not hold any memorable moments for the Portuguese-based striker, who wasted two half chances as Bafana Bafana lost 2-0.
He did, however, reserve his criticism for the host nation's team, saying he was disappointed with the recent performances of the Bafana Bafana.
Should Bafana Bafana win at home, they will lead Egypt - the reigning African champions - by six points with only three qualifiers left.
Regarding his international career with South Africa, Pienaar declared his willingness to serve his country and vowed to prove himself worthy of a Bafana shirt.
The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) had said he will rejoin his Bafana Bafana colleagues before 31 May which is when the squad is finalised.
McCarthy has scored a record 31 goals in 79 caps for South Africa and represented the Bafana Bafana at both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
An affidavit by former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono, who owned a share in the players, told of the huge profit the pair made from the sales.
The ruling came as Bafana Bafana flew to Senegal for a friendly match ahead of the Cup of Nations under the stewardship of assistant coach April 'Styles' Phumo.
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The squad includes three players who are being hailed as the country's potential future stars, among them Thando Mngomeni, whose brother Thabo is a former Bafana Bafana captain.
The ultimate objective is come up with a strong Bafana Bafana team that will ensure that South Africa qualifies for the 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations .
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira kept essentially the same side - Tsepo Masilela replaced Lucas Thwala at left-back - and the same shape from the 1-1 draw with Mexico.
While Mali will seek to reach the semifinals for the second tournament in a row against Bafana Bafana in Durban, Ghana will face high fliers Cape Verde in Saturday's first quarterfinal.
Turmoil has engulfed the French camp this week but despite Les Bleus' off-field problems, Parreira said the hosts' victory over the 2006 finalists was a clear sign of Bafana Bafana's improvement.
"I don't envy the Mexicans, who are going to be subject to 90, 000 vuvuzelas, " said South Africa defender Matthew Booth, referring to the loud horns that Bafana Bafana supporters bring to matches.
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