South African defender Khuliso Mudau believes the young Bafana Bafana squad has what it takes to go all the way and lift the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in Ivory Coast.

Bafana, who last won the trophy in 1996, will be based in Korhogo for their Group E fixtures set to take place at the newly built Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly – the same venue that Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa recently lifted the CAF Women’s Champions League.

“It won’t be an easy group to get out of, but I think we have quality in the squad with players who are young and hungry. We want to make sure that we write history together,” said Mudau as quoted by CAFOnline.

“I think it will help us a lot to have players who play in the Champions League. You can’t compare it with the local league because the intensity is not the same. So I think it’s going to help us a lot.

“We have been playing together for quite a while now as a team and I am just grateful to be here and want to showcase my talent.

“The Mamelodi Sundowns defender further lauded the presence of coach Hugo Broos, who guided Cameroon to the title in 2017 by saying: “He is very important. He is a very good coach. An experienced coach and I believe if we can apply exactly what he wants us to apply, we can make it.”

South Africa are drawn with North African giants Tunisia, neighbors Namibia as well as Mali.