AFCON Qualifiers: Bafana Bafana poised to stop Eagles

Despite already securing qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations billed to hold in Equatorial Guinea, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana plan to wreck Nigeria’s ambition of achieving same feat, latest reports suggest.

The team which was expected in Nigeria, Monday night, ahead of Wednesday’s clash at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, vowed to protect their unbeaten run in the qualifiers leaving Nigeria at risk of not going on to defend the title they won last year in South Africa.

“Nigerians don’t want to lose against South Africa, that alone will make this match a tough one and we also have the assignment to break the hoodoo that we always lose when we play against them. We have to go out there positive and believe we will do well,” Shakes Masaba the magical Coach for South Africa told SAFA.net.

Interestingly, South Africa have not lost in the five qualifiers played so far – with two away wins, two homes draws and one win at home – a record they would like to maintain.

They have scored seven goals and conceded only one.

“Our away record is very good, and we can only hope for the best in the upcoming match. What makes me happy is that we have managed to score two goals at home which was a challenge in our past home games.

“I will be even happier if we score some goals in Nigeria and that will give us the dignity we deserve. Winning three away games will definitely give us the respect we deserve as a nation. Once we beat Nigeria, the reigning African champions, it will bring confidence to the whole squad and to the country and also finish the qualifiers without a defeat,” concluded Mashaba.

The Eagles need victory to be sure of their place in next year’s AFCON; anything short of that will spell doom for the reigning African Champions.