South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said on Wednesday his under-performing team can still advance to the African Nations Cup quarter-finals.

However, the 2010 World Cup hosts will need to beat Senegal on Thursday and also hope the result of the other Group D match between Angola and Tunisia goes their way.
"Hope is still there," said Brazilian World Cup winner Parreira.

"We would have loved to have at least have got a draw against Tunisia and so were disappointed when we lost. Had we got a result in that game, we would not now be depending on others to help us out. But as it is qualification is not in our hands now.
"We now need for either Angola or Tunisia to win while we do the business against Senegal.
He added: "The team spirit has been great since our loss to Tunisia and we all know that we have to play with a winning spirit to stand any chance of advancing."
Parreira claimed qualification for the next stage of the Nations Cup will underline the improvement the South Africans have undergone since he took charge of the team.

"It's important that we show we are improving and so it is important that we win on Thursday. At the last competition we finished bottom of the entire championship and as we are building for the 2010 World Cup, we need to show we are improving," he said.
Skipper Aaron Mokoena admitted that the team have put behind them the defensive mistakes that cost them the match against Tunisia and now look forward to beating Senegal.

"At this level you cannot afford to make such mistakes. But we have recovered from them and now look forward to winning the game," he said.
"At the same time, we are also aware of the situation we are in. It's not a situation we like but such is life. But we have to go out there and win our own game and hope for the best result between Angola and Tunisia."
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who picked up an ankle knock in training, and defender Tsepo Masilela will undergo late fitness tests ahead of the clash. Masilela suffered a hamstring injury in the Tunisia match.
Senegal go into this match without coach Henri Kasperczak, who threw in the towel after the team lost to Angola in a decisive group game in Tamale.

They are now under the guidance of caretaker coach Lamine Ndiaye, formerly of Cameroonian club Coton Sport.
They have preferred to stay away from the press, refusing to answer questions from reporters, since they arrived Kumasi from Tamale Tuesday.
Senegal first clashed with South Africa at this level in a 2002 friendly which finished in a 1-1 draw. The Teranga Lions won the two other encounters between them, 2-1 in 2004 and 3-2 the following year.