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| Super Eagles celebrating their last victory over South Africa |
Nigeria has never lost a competitive match to
South Africa at senior level, and the Super Eagles are confident that record
will not only be sustained, but a convincing win by Nigeria awaits in
Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium in Uyo.
On Monday, 21 of the 24 invited players,
alongside technical crew and backroom staff, arrived at their familiar Le
Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo ambience, and training sessions began in
earnest on Tuesday ahead of the big encounter.
The South African
Football Association has confirmed that the Bafana Bafana delegation will fly
into Lagos on Wednesday and then immediately connect a flight to Uyo, as both
teams looked forward to a pulsating game on the turf of the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium.
Although the Bafana
Bafana have never beaten the Super Eagles in a competitive game, Nigerians
would remember that a 2-2 draw at the same venue between both teams in November
2014 meant the Eagles missed the cut for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Tokelo Rantie scored
both goals, before left –sided midfielder Sone Aluko also replied with a brace
– something that is a usual occurrence in matches between both nations.
Before Rantie and
Aluko, Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), pacy wingers Tijani Babangida and
Osaze Odemwingie and forwards Uche Nwofor and Ejike Uzoenyi had bagged braces
in matches between both nations at senior level.
Midfielder Ogenyi
Onazi, who will lead out the Super Eagles on Saturday in the absence of
recuperating captain Mikel John Obi, said on Tuesday: “It is a big game, and we
are one for the big occasion.
“I have confidence in
the group that we have now and the ambition oozing in the camp. We want to go
to the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Starting well on Saturday will
be key to our aspiration.”
Winger Ahmed Musa, who
netted a brace in a 3-0 defeat of Togo in a friendly in Paris on Thursday,
alongside defender Kenneth Omeruo and newly –wed wing back Elderson Echiejile
were the only squad members given until Tuesday to arrive camp.
Nigeria’s army on
Saturday will include former junior international Kelechi Iheanacho, who has
scored in seven of his last eight matches for the Super Eagles, as well as
record scorer in the FIFA U17 World Cup, Victor Osimhen. There are also this
season’s top scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga, Olanrewaju Kayode, the pacy
Moses Simon and the nimble –footed Alex Iwobi.
The last outing
between both teams was a friendly match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit
two years ago, which ended 1-1. Ahmed Musa scored a late goal in a game in
which Daniel Akpeyi (likely to start in goal for Nigeria on Saturday) saved a
penalty, but there was still time for the Bafana Bafana to draw level.
Eagles for Battle
Daniel Akpeyi
Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Dele Alampasu
Kenneth Omeruo
William Ekong
Abdullahi Shehu
Tyronne Ebuehi
Elderson Echiejile
Chidozie Awaziem
Maroof Youssef
Ogenyi Onazi
Wilfred Ndidi
Oghenekaro Etebo
John Ogu
Uche Agbo
Mikel Agu
Alhassan Ibrahim
Ahmed Musa
Kelechi Iheanacho
Moses Simon
Alex Iwobi
Henry Onyekuru
Victor Osimhen
Olanrewaju Kayode
NIGERIA & SOUTH
AFRICA AT SENIOR LEVEL
10
Oct 1992: Nigeria 4 South Africa 0 – Lagos (World Cup Qualifier)
16
Jan 1993: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0 – Jo’burg (World Cup Qualifier)
10
Feb 2000: Nigeria 2 South Africa 0 – Lagos (Afcon semi final)
31
Jan 2004: South Africa 0 Nigeria 4 – Monastir (Afcon group stage)
17
Nov 2004: South Africa 2 Nigeria 1 – Jo’burg (Mandela Challenge)
1
June 2008: Nigeria 2 South Africa 0 – Abuja (World Cup Qualifier)
6
Sep 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 – Port Elizabeth (World Cup Qual.)
11
Aug 2013: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 – Durban (Mandela Challenge)
19
Jan 2014: South Africa 1 Nigeria 3 – Cape Town (CHAN group stage)
10 Sept 2014: South Africa 0
Nigeria 0 – Cape Town (Afcon Qualifier)
19
Nov 2014: Nigeria 2 South Africa 2 – Uyo (Afcon Qualifier)
29 Mar 2015: South Africa 1
Nigeria 1 – Nelspruit (Friendly)
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