As the Super Eagles file out against the Bafana Bafana today in Cape Town, the South Africans for once have a psychological edge over Nigeria. If there is any time they have a chance of beating Nigeria, it is now. Only last weekend, Nigeria lost 3-2 to Congo Brazzaville in the opening fixture of the African Nations Cup qualifiers.
The match was played in Calabar and Stephen Keshi‘s wards apparently underrated their opponents and paid dearly for it. On the other hand, Bafana Bafana went to Omdurman to whip Sudan 3-0 in the other Group A encounter.
This places the South Africans on top of the group and it is a big boost to their aspiration to qualify for Morocco. South Africa coach, Ephraim Mashaba, and his boys are bubbling with confidence ahead of this encounter.
It is believed that if Congo can stun the Eagles in Calabar, the Bafana Bafana can also do the same in Cape Town. Mashaba has described the encounter as war. He told his boys to brace themselves for it and get the victory which according to him will change a lot of things in the country’s football.
He said; “It won’t be an easy walk in the park for both teams but I have told my boys to attack and tame the monster in our path. We need to show mental toughness against Nigeria because they will come out fighting after losing their first match to Congo.
“Nigeria has been giving us sleepless nights in the past but this time we are battle ready to change all that with a good result, which is a win.” Sibusiso Vilakazi who scored two goals against Sudan last weekend has also expressed confidence in the ability of the team to change history on Wednesday. “History is there to be rewritten and I am confident we are going to do that against Nigeria.
We are going to make South Africans happy with a victory against the Eagles, “he said. Bafana Bafana captain and goalie, Senzo Meyiwa, said they team would not underrate the visiting Nigerian team because of the defeat they suffered against Congo on Saturday in Calabar. “The fact that they lost to Congo has not affected our preparation and determination.
We are concentrating on the task of beating Nigeria this time,” he said. But Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, said the poor result recorded on Saturday made this encounter a must win for his wards.
“We have no option than to go for the three points. It won’t be easy but we are going to work towards it since that’s the only way to move on,” he said. Eagles goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, has told Nigerians that the best of the team would be seen against the Bafana Bafana in this encounter.
“There are no easy games but for now we have our backs against the wall and the only option is to perform well to move on in our attempt to qualify for the Nations Cup.
We are the defending champions and we have to show the stuff of champions,” Ejide said. In the past 20 years, Nigeria and South Africa have met nine times with the Super Eagles beating the Bafana Bafana seven times, recording a draw and losing just once.
Interestingly, the only defeat Nigeria suffered was a friendly tie in 2004 which ended 2-1 in favour of the South Africans. However, Eagles won five of their seven competitive games against the Bafana Bafana convincingly. Nigeria has scored 19 goals against South Africa and conceded only three. History favours Nigeria as both countries meet again tonight in a crunch Nations Cup qualifier.
The first match between both countries was a World Cup qualifier in 1994. Eagles won the match 4-0 at the mainbowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. At the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia, Nigeria lost 1-0 in the opening match to Morocco but bounced back into reckoning in the competition with a 4-0 victory over South Africa.
Eagles are faced with a similar situation now in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers but can they rise to the occasion this time? Ejide will have to coordinate his men from the rear to avoid some of the elementary errors recorded against Congo in Calabar.
The match is 7pm Nigerian time.
