Nigeria's quest
to defend her
Afcon title could
possibly be over
by Wednesday
night when the
Super Eagles
face the Bafana
Bafana in
Durban. If the
Super Eagles want to win title, there will
have to be a remarkable improvement in
the team's play from the showing they
put out over the weekend in Calabar.
An insipid display saw the reigning
African champions put to the sword 3-2
by Congo, right in front of their home
fans for what was Nigeria's first home
defeat at the UJ Esuene Stadium.
South Africa, on the other hand, had a
great start under their new coach
Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba as his new-look
side beat Sudan away with a Sibusiso
Vilakazi brace and a Bongani Ndulula
effort as the young South Africans ran
riot.
Sitting pretty on top of the table, South
Africa will look to gain one over Nigeria
for only their second win ever against
Nigeria, which has consistently proved to
be a bogey team of sorts for the Bafana
Bafana.
Nigeria, however, will look to bounce back
from the opening match day defeat and
continue their domination over South
Africa and get back on track towards
qualifying for Morocco 2015.
Away and beyond
Locked in Group A of the Caf/Orange
Afcon 2015 qualifying series, Nigeria,
South Africa, Sudan and Congo will all look
to get their grind on after match day one
proved to be an eye opener, especially for
the reigning champions.
Goals by Thievy Bifouma and Prince
Oniangue ensured Congo got a famous win
in Nigeria, while South Africa, looking to
rebuild after past failures, gave their
new coach a great debut by hitting Sudan
for three away.
Match day two promises to be much more
interesting. Nigeria know a point in South
Africa is the only way to keep hopes alive
while South Africa will look to consolidate
on their near perfect performance at the
El Merriekh Stadium.
Group A standings after match day 1
1. South Africa W-1 L-0 D-0 GF 3 GA 0
GD +3 PTS 3
2. Congo W-1 L-0 D-0 GF 3 GA 2 GD +1
PTS 3
3. Nigeria W-0 L-1 D-0 GF 2 GA 3 GD -1
PTS 0
4. Sudan W-0 L-1 D-0 GF-0 GA 3 GD-3
PTS 0
Head to head
Nigeria's Super Eagles first met South
Africa in a full competitive international
game at the National Stadium in Surulere
in 1992 after the South Africans were
admitted back into the international fold.
A Rashidi Yekini brace and further goals
from Richard Owubokiri and Samson Siasia
gave Nigeria a resounding 4-0 victory in a
Group D World Cup qualifier on 10th
October 1992.
Subsequently, there has been eight more
matches between the two countries with
Nigeria winning seven of those and losing
just one to Bafana Bafana.
The most recent of these victories was
the 3-1 spanking the Eagles handed to
South Africa at the 2014 Chan
tournament hosted by the South Africans.
Flash back
Nigeria v South Africa, National Stadium,
Surulere
Nigeria 4 ( Owubokiri, Yekini-2, Siasia)
South Africa 0
Line-ups: Nigeria - Ike Shorunmu, Stephen
Keshi, Austin Eguavoen, Emeka Ezeugo,
Ben Iroha, Nduka Ugbade, Precious Monye,
Victor Ikpeba, Rashidi Yekini, Samson
Siasia, Richard Owubokiri.
South Africa - Mark Anderson, Neil Tovey,
Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga, Roger Links,
Sam Khambula, Bennet Masinga, Steve
Komphela, Augustine Makalakalane, Mike
Rowbotham, Sizwe Motaung
Matches in full
10 October 1992: Nigeria 4 South Africa 0
16 January 1993: South Africa 0 Nigeria 0
10 February 2000 : Nigeria 2 South Africa
0
31 January 2004 : Nigeria 4 South Africa
0
17 November 2004 South Africa 2 Nigeria
1
1 June 2008 : Nigeria 2 South Africa 0
6 September 2008 : South Africa 0
Nigeria 1
14 August 2013 : South Africa 0 Nigeria 2
19 January 2014 : South Africa 1 Nigeria
3
Team news
Nigeria have dropped back-up goalkeeper
David Obiazor and Uche Nwofor, who
started the game against Congo for the
trip to South Africa.
Stand-in goalkeeper Austin Ejide will keep
his place in goal while Emmanuel Emenike
might get a look in from the start after
his impressive display coming off the
bench against Congo in Calabar.
South Africa coach Mashaba might start
with two-goal hero Sibusiso Vilakazi who
came off the bench in that 3-0 rout of
Sudan at the weekend. Senzo Meyiwa
continues in goal in place of the injured
Itumeleng Khune.
What they said
"Of late, Bafana Bafana had become a
laughing stock and had lost credit within
the football standing and we need to
restore that acclaim.
"We must bring back the pride to our
national team and I am happy with the
3-0 win away from home. It is a beginning
of that rebuilding process." - Ephraim
'Shakes' Mashaba, South Africa coach
"We have looked at everything and we
know why we lost to Congo. Now we must
look ahead to the game against South
Africa.
"South Africa are a good side. I saw them
in their last game against Sudan (when
they won 3-0) and they also have a new
coach." - Stephen Keshi, Nigeria coach
Key players
Nigeria
Emmanuel Emenike has continued to prove
he is one of the best strikers in Africa.
He came off the bench and led the line
for Nigeria in the loss to Congo. It is
certain the Fenerbahce of Turkey forward
will start against Bafana Bafana on
Wednesday.
Kenneth Omerou didn't have the best of
games against Congo, but his talent and
commitment has never been in doubt. One
of the rising stars of the African game,
Omerou was solid at the Fifa World Cup
held in Brazil this year.
Nigeria will look up to him to stop the
rampaging South African strikers when
the two sides clash on match day two of
Group A of the final phase of qualifying
for Afcon 2015.
South Africa
Senzo Meyiwa
The athletic goalkeeper, second choice
behind Itumeleng Khune, has proven he
can be trusted when the Kaizer Chiefs
man isn't available.
He has transferred his Caf Champions
League form into the game against Sudan
where he made a couple of outstanding
saves to deny Sudan in Khartoum.
Sibusiso Vilakazi
The Premier Soccer League player of the
season last term was the hero for South
Africa as his brace helped Bafana Bafana
to a resounding win in Sudan.
Vilakazi, who plays for PSL side Bidvest
Wits, will hope to transfer that form to
help the team get South Africa's first win
against Nigeria in a decade.
Teams
South Africa:
Goalkeepers: Senzo Meyiwa, Dumisani
Msibi. Darren Keet
Defenders: Buhle Mkhwanazi, Thulani
Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba, Ramahlwe
Mphahlele, Ayabulela Magqwaka,
Mulomowandau Mathoho, Anele Ngcongca,
Rivaldo Coetzee, Sibusiso Khumalo.
Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Sibusiso
Vilakazi, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, Dean
Furman, Ayanda Patosi, Keagan Dolly,
Mandla Masango, Kamohelo Mokotjo.
Strikers: Tokelo Rantie, Bongani Ndulula,
David Zulu, Bongi Ntuli.
Nigeria:
Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er
Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe
United, Nigeria)
Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC,
France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC,
Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC,
Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC,
Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri
Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo
(Middlesbrough FC, England); Kunle
Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)
Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC,
England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy);
Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Joel Obi
(Inter Milan, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi
Tel Aviv, Israel); Omatsone Aluko (Hull
City, England)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow,
Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce
FC, Turkey); Uche Nwofor (unattached);
Nnamdi Oduamadi (FC Crotone, Italy);
Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves); Christian
Osaguona (Enugu Rangers)