Former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono believes that the South African national side will qualify for the knockout stages of Afcon 2019, saying that their group in not difficult.

Bafana were drawn against African giants Morocco and Ivory Coast, as well as neighbours Namibia in Group D for the tournament set to take place in Egypt in June.

Sono, who led Bafana to the Afcon final in 1998, believes that Stuart Baxter’s charges have what it takes to progress to the knockout stages of this year’s edition of the tournament, but admitted that a lot will depend on their preparation.

‘I think we can do well. I am sure that we will beat Namibia. Look, Ivory Coast is yet to beat us,’ Sono told Isolezwe.

‘We beat Morocco in the quarter-finals back in 1998 in Burkina Faso. I don’t think this is a difficult group in my view.’

With this year’s continental showpiece set to have 24 teams, the top two teams of each group, along with the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16, allowing for an extra opportunity to advance to the knockout stages.

‘We can progress to the next stage because two teams must qualify for the knockout stages and one that will finish better.

‘South Africa must be among the two teams that will finish at the top, or be part of the four teams [third-best placed teams] that will reach the knockout stages. If we fail to do so, then we will have to play in the Sunday Leagues,’ added Sono.

‘I believe all will depend on the day on how much preparation we put in our games. On the other hand, you will note from the records that we did well on the road, but we have not done well in home games – so we can go a long way,’ the Jomo Cosmos boss concluded.