Johannesburg- Bafana Bafana head coach, Pitso Mosimane, is hopeful that history will not repeat itself when his squad faces Sierra Leone in the 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Freetown next month.
"We are expecting them to come down hard on us and never allow us to make free movements, (but) we are not going to open-up and we will adjust to the conditions to ensure that we come back with good results," he said.
Announcing his 22-man squad on Thursday, Mosimane said he expected veteran midfielder, Macbeth Sibaya; skipper, Aaron Mokoena and Everton's Steven Pienaar to lead the team.
Bafana Bafana will be facing Sierra Leone for the third time. When the national squad went to Freetown in 2008, they lost 1-nil and have drawn twice with the West Africans.
However, the 2010 FIFA World Cup host is going into the away clash with a slight advantage following their three consecutive wins since the World Cup.
Their latest win was against minnows, Niger, at Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit earlier this month and it was this win which placed Mosimane's boys on top of Group G of the 2012 AFCON qualifiers.
On the other hand, the West Africans built their confidence by securing an away one point against the African champions, Egypt in Cairo.
"I am not expecting a free flow, but we are determined to give our supporters and the nation what they deserve and we are hopeful that we will come back still on top of Group G," he said.
South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO, Leslie Sedibe also expressed his confidence in Bafana adding that he hoped the team would return victorious from Freetown.
"We are well aware of the challenging task at hand, but the leadership of SAFA is fully behind the coach and his technical team on this tricky assignment of national importance.
"We can take solace that the conditions in Freetown will not be new to us and we believe that this is payback time," he said.
Acting team manager Barney Kujane, who had just returned from inspecting facilities in Sierra Leone, said the team will assemble in Monte Casino Hotel in Fourways on October 4.
They will depart for Sierra Leone on October 8. A training session is scheduled at the match venue a day before the crucial encounter, which will be played in Freetown at the National stadium. Kick-off is at 18:30 South African time.
The team is as follows: goal keepers are Moeneeb Josephs, Itumeleng Khune and Darren Keet of Bidvest Wits.
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa, Aaron Mokoena, Tsepo Masilela, Anele Ngcongca, Innocent Mdledle, Morgan Gould, Siyabonga Sangweni and Bongani Khumalo.
Midfielders: Steven Pienaar, Macbeth Sibaya, Andile Jali, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Teko Modise.
The four strikers chosen to bring in the goals are Mamelodi Sundowns goal scorer, Katlego Mphela, his team-mate, Surprise Moriri, as well as Bernard Parker and Sthembiso Ngcobo.
