Can Bafana Defeat Nigeria?

Bafana Bafana will play against the Super Eagles tonight at the Green Point Stadium with 65,000 fans baying for blood.

Both teams are going into their second Group A Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. History doesn’t favour the home side but the team will feel confident following their 3 – 0 victory over Sudan last week. The players in the Bafana squad will have even more incentive under new coach Shakes Mashaba.

The sacking of former coach Gordon Igesund made way for Mashaba who has done commendable work with the SA U21 boys. Shakes Mashaba’s philosophy has always been centered around development of the youth and he has stayed true to that sentiment by excluding more than 60% of the older squad – the only notable face is injured captain Itumeleng Khune. Shakes has added a youthful team of players including 2 players from his u/21 team – a welcomed decision.

Both Shakes Mashaba and Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi mentioned “it will be war” and this is what the Bafana coach had to say: “I know the Nigerians. They always want to be cruising, playing free flowing football but if we pick them up and deny them spaces, then we will have a chance. Nigeria play a very fast game but we will do what they don’t expect which is to get the ball into their half with speed and play our game. Take the game to them in one on one situations because they don’t like that and take them on. It will be not be a tactical game. It will be a psychological thing. It will be war.”

A lot is expected by this new Bafana outfit. This is their second test and definitely their toughest, considering that Bafana haven’t won a competitive match against Nigeria in more than a decade. Senzo Meyiwa takes over the gloves and captaincy from Khune.

Kick off is at 19:55.