Keet: We are covered in defense even without Mathoho and Mashamaite

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet believes that the absence of defender Eric Mathoho against Algeria will not be a huge blow to them as they have able replacements

Tha national team take on Christian Gourcuff's fiery Desert Foxes at the Estadio de Mongomo in the 2015 Afcon finals which is currently being held in Equatorial Guinea.

The team will be without defender Mathoho, who was a key figure in Bafana, enduring one of the best defensive records during the qualifying phase, conceding only three goals in their six group matches. He is serving a suspension after picking up two bookings in the last two qualifying matches against Sudan and Nigeria.

The Belgium-based Keet says that the Kaizer Chiefs man's no show will be a nonchalant case for them against the Algerians, despite the fact that he has been a key men for them as everyone in this game, irrespective of their reputation is replaceable at any given time.

"It's not such a big issue. In football, everyone is replaceable. He was always a mainstay in our defence and did fantastically well, and I think he got a few man-of-the-match awards leading up to the tournament.

"But we also have players like Anele (Ngcongca), Rivaldo (Coetzee), 'Tyson' (Thulani Hlatshwayo) and we have brought in Ayanda (Gcaba). I think we are completely covered in defence," Keet told the Times newspaper on Monday.

Hlatshwayo, along with Coetzee have been tasked to start in the heart of defence accompanied by Thabo Matlaba, the effervescent player charging down the left full flank and Ngcongca as right fullback, as they need to keep the likes of Sofiane Feghouli in check all night long.

"We have all proved ourselves and everyone knows what we are capable of," Keet commented.

Bafana's next opponents in the 'Group of Death' Group C are Senegal on January 23 and Ghana on January 27. Both clashes will be played in the city of Mongomo.