Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana has announced what he termed "the best possible squad" in a bid to regain a meaure of pride against Equatorial Guinea next Saturday in a game of diminished importance for both countries.

Neither South Africa nor Guinea have any chance of qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup and will be playing to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom in their group.

Santana, for his part, will be commandeering a squad of no major surprises in attempting to steer clear of something akin in a sporting sense to the fate of South African-based revolutionary Simon Mann, who was foiled in a coup attempt to topple the Guinean government.

Should the Brazilian-born coach fail on this mission, he will not experience the fate as the imprisoned revolutionary, but he could find himself in hot water when he returns to South Africa.

"Winning is not an option," said one official. "It is simply a must."

The only notable ommisions from the Bafana squad are players with injury problems like Steven Pienaar, whose life was further blighted this week when he was arrested on a charge of assaulting a female in Liverpool, and Sundowns' Sibusiso Zuma.

Surprise Moriri, another Sundowns player, has recently demonstrated little of the form expected from him at international level and his omission is therefore no surprise at all.

The most pleasing selection for pained Bafana diehards will be that of tearaway Thanda Royal Zulu midfielder Bernard Parker, who transferred his prolific Premier League scoring boots to the international arena this week while producing two of South Africa's goals in the 3-0 win over a mediocre and timid Malawi combination.

And while goalkeepers Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) and Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates) have gained selection as anticipated and are capable of breathtaking saves, they both have a tendency to make impetuous mistakes which can undo their otherwise good work.

The Bafana squad, who recorded their only Nations Cup qualifying success with a 4-1 home win against Equatorial Guinea, leave South Africa on Thursday morning and are due to return to the country immediately after their game.

The Bafana Bafana squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates).

DEFENDERS: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bryce Moon (Panithinaikos), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Nasief Morris (Recreativo), Matthew Booth (Krylya Sovetov), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Bradley Carnell (Karlsruher), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Morgan Gould (SuperSport).

MIDFIELDERS: Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden arrows), Teko Modise (Pirates), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs), Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows), Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Masilo Modubi (Westerlo).

STRIKERS: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa), Katlego Mashego (SuperSport).

Sapa