Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba expects his side to be fired up for their World Cup qualifier match against Burkina Faso on Saturday.

The South African national team arrived in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan on Tuesday as they prepare for their qualifying clash against the Stallons at Stade du 4 Aout.

The 66-year-old says will be hoping for a positive result against the Stallons because he believes it will set them up nicely for the rest of the campaign.

‘We began the Equatorial Guinea 2015 qualifiers away from home against Sudan and from that moment onwards there was no looking back. I expect the boys to be fired up for the Burkina Faso game on Saturday and set the tone for the remainder of the campaign,’ Mashaba told the Safa website.

Mashaba added that his side has prepared well and he believes Bafana Bafana can overcome their opponents even though it’s a whole different ball game.

‘We have learnt our lessons and although this will be a tough match because Burkina Faso are a tough nut to crack at home, I believe we have done our home work and we should compete,’ he added.

The former South African U23 coach continued to say that he has assembled a well-balanced that will do their country proud at the qualifiers.

‘I could not have asked for a better organised and balanced team. We have assembled a good squad with good spirit and a group of players who know what it means to don the Bafana Bafana jersey,’ the Bafana Bafana coach concluded.

Following their clash against Burkina Faso, Bafana Bafana will play Ghana three days later in an international friendly at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on October 11.

The match in Burkina Faso kicks off at 20:00.