Congo friendly a good test for Bafana Bafana, Al Ahly forward Percy Tau says

Bafana Bafana will be playing their second successive friendly match over the international break when they face DR Congo at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.

Already qualified for the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for January 2024 in Ivory Coast, Bafana are using the warm-ups to panel beat the squad.

On Saturday, the coach Hugo Broos' men labored to a barren draw against Namibia at the same venue.

"All these games are preparations for us," Bafana vice captain Percy Tau told Mozzart Sport ahead of their final training session on Monday.

"It would be a great test and a nice feeling to play Congo (DRC); they just won 2-0 in their last game, and they're going to offer us a good learning opportunity, " the 29-year-old Al Ahly SC forward added.

Bafana are making a return to the AFCON after missing the last campaign in Cameroon and since exiting the 2019 Egypt edition at the hands of Nigeria in the quarters.

Despite being one of the best managed teams in Africa and a top national league to boot, there's always been a feeling that the team does not give back as much leading to fans apathy.

Yet, Tau is of the view that they also crave success just like everybody else, and they want to put a smile back on fans' faces moving forward.

"In football there are some phases whereby you don't do so well in tournaments, but we're trying to bring back the happiness again. The team is focused and trying to be better," Tau said.

Bafana will play two more friendlies in the next FIFA window in October against Mauritania and Ivory Coast before they embark on the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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The 1996 AFCON winners will be up against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho after they were stacked up together in Group C of the qualifiers