Bafana Bafana midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo is ready to represent South Africa in his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations with the senior national team.

The South African national team were drawn in Group D alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco and Namibia and will take on Ivory Coast in their opening game of the Afcon at the Al-Salam Stadium on Monday.

Following this tournament opener, Bafana will meet Namibia four days later and end their group-stage matches against Morocco on 1 July.

The 28-year-old midfielder revealed that he has been working hard to get into the Bafana set-up and insists that he is in the right mental space to help South Africa reach their objective in the tournament.

‘I’ve been working hard. That I’m here right now is not by luck or chance‚’ Mokotjo told the media.

‘I hope to stay in the set-up for as long as I can. Even when challenges arise‚ and when the competition gets stronger, I’ll keep playing my own game and I’ll be in the right mental space.’

The Brentford midfielder feels honoured to be representing the country at the biggest tournament in Africa after reaching the last 16 of the 2009 Fifa U20 World Cup with Amajita.

‘It’s good being back for the whole team‚ not just the team that played in the U20 World Cup‚’ he added.

‘But, ja‚ we’re here under a different coach‚ under different circumstances. I think it’s a big honour for all of us to be representing the country in the biggest tournament in Africa.’

The match at the Al Salam Stadium kicks off at 4:30pm.