South Africa have already secured a place in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, but they head into their final Group A qualifier away to Nigeria on Wednesday evening with a unique opportunity to eliminate the reigning continental champions.
Kick-off at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in the south-eastern city of Uyo is set for 7pm CAT(GMT+2).
Having beaten Sudan 2-1 in Durban on Saturday – thanks to goals from Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie – Bafana Bafana have booked a ticket to the 2015 Afcon and will also finish top of the qualifying group regardless of their result in West Africa.
However, with Nigeria placed second in the group and level on points with Congo (who are away to bottom-of-the-log Sudan), there is an opportunity for Shakes Mashaba’s team to eliminate the Super Eagles from the competition before it even kicks off in Equatorial Guinea in January.
Simply avoiding defeat should do the trick, provided Congo can beat Sudan in Khartoum. This would then see the Central Africans shift up into second place and Nigeria would in all likelihood not be ranked as the best third-placed team from the group, thereby denying them qualification and ending their reign as African champions.
This would be doubly beneficial for Mashaba’s charges: firstly, it would eliminate one of the favourites for the trophy and also help South Africa’s ranking ahead of the draw for the tournament, and secondly it would provide some sweet revenge for the suffering the Super Eagles have routinely handed out to Bafana Bafana.
With zero wins in eight previous competitive matches against Nigeria, South Africa will feel it is high time they turn the tables on the West African powerhouses. The teams played to a goalless draw in Cape Town in their first meeting in this qualification campaign back in September.
Mashaba has emphasised that he will not allow his players to be complacent for the match in Nigeria, despite already being sure of top spot in the group.
“No, I know people are going to say that it’s just a walkover,” said Mashaba after the 2-1 win over Sudan on Saturday.
“We’re still going to play our best team. It’s more than three points when you go to Nigeria, there are a lot of things that we’re going to be playing for. It’s going to be another tough game like the one we played today.”
Thulani Serero is a doubt for Bafana, having suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s match. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be without Hope Akpan due to an arm injury, while defenders defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Azubuike Egwuekwe look set to be available after recovering from minor knocks.
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