War In Jo’burg…As Eagles Seek Revenge Against Bafana Bafana

bafana

TAIWO ADELU

Nigeria’s Super Eagles face an acid test as they take on Bafana Bafana of South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying match away from home on Saturday in Johannesburg.

It will be a return fixture and the Nigerian senior team will seek to revenge the defeat by the South Africans in the first leg of the qualifier played in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

The Eagles are indignant following South Africa’s audacity in flying to Uyo to earn a 2-0 win on Match Day 1, and apart from the unspoken crave for revenge, the quiet but fierce contention between Nigeria and South Africa in other spheres has lifted Saturday’s match to higher stakes.

Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, is countenancing a second feat on-the-bounce of qualifying Nigeria’s Super Eagles for a major championship with a match to spare.

The former Germany defender equaled a 20 –year old record when he led the three –time African champions to earn a slot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals after a 1-0 defeat of Zambia in Uyo on 10^th October 2017 scripted Nigeria’s name on the roster for Russia ahead of final match day.

Frenchman Philippe Troussier led Nigeria to qualify for the 1998 World Cup following defeat of Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Lagos, with the away match to Guinea at hand. But qualification for the 2002, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup competitions were achieved on the final day of the respective series.

Rohr savoured accolades from far and near for his accomplishment, and the Franco-German appears to love it and wants more, with the Super Eagles looking good to earn a ticket to the 2019 Africa Cup finals ahead of the final day of the series. Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title but then failed to qualify for the last two championships.

Victory over South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday will earn Rohr worthwhile space in Nigerian Football’s history, alongside a young, ambitious squad that has grown in confidence after featuring at the World Cup and winning all three competitive games after that, scoring 10 goals and conceding only two.

“Our mission in Johannesburg is simple: qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. We are not thinking of anything else. We want the ticket in our pocket before the final match day,” Rohr said in Asaba on Tuesday evening.

Ahmed Musa and team mates, as well as Nigerian ball fans, have not forgotten how the Bafana Bafana stopped the Eagles from qualifying for the 2015 AFCON, after a 2-2 draw in Uyo on 19^th November 2014 on a day the Eagles needed the slimmest of wins.

The Bafana Bafana has much to worry about. Victories over Seychelles away and Libya home-and-away has catapulted Nigeria to top place in a pool the Bafana led comfortably, and should Nigeria win in Soweto on Saturday, the heat would be on the 1996 champions as they could be torpedoed for second ticket by the ferocious Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

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 Sept 2008: South Africa 0 Nigeria 1 – Port Elizabeth (World Cup Qual.)

11 Aug 2013: South Africa 0 Nigeria 2 – Durban (Mandela Challenge)

19 Aug 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)