S Africa play friendlies before Nations Cup

South Africa's national football team will play Malawi, Norway and Algeria in friendlies before the Africa Cup of Nations in January next year, the country's football association said Tuesday. Bafana Bafana ("The Boys") face Malawi in Durban on December 22, two days after they start a training camp for the continental tournament. The match against Norway will take place in Cape Town on January 8, and Algeria four days later in Soweto. Coach Gordon Igesund will announce the 23-man squad for the Africa Cup after the Norway game. "What is key is to give the players one last opportunity to convince me and my technical team that we are making the right choices," said Igesund. South Africa host the Africa Cup from January 19 to February 10.