African champions Nigeria will be hoping to get their qualification chances for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations back on track when they play against Group A leaders South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Wednesday at the Cape Town Stadium. The Super Eagles suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Congo at home on Saturday in their first qualifying game and a defeat to South Africa today will further put their qualification hopes in jeopardy. Nigeria should have been favourites ordinarily for this tie, having beaten their hosts seven times in nine previous outings, losing just once to them. But a faltering start to their title defence in Calabar on Saturday, have placed doubts over the Eagles ability to overcome Bafana, who defeated Sudan 3-0 in the other group fixture on Friday. Even though Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, is hoping to upset Eagles’ huge credentials against his side, he is wary of Nigeria threat. Mashaba, who is in his third spell as South Africa coach, believes the Eagles will come out fighting. “It won’t be a technical match; they (Nigeria) are going to be fighting as well. We are ready to go to battle and it is a big one and I have told my boys to up their game, come Wednesday. But I’ve got confidence with the kind of players that we’ve assembled and I’m confident that we’ll get something out of the game,” Mashaba told kickoff. Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, is hopeful his side will get back on winning track with the game against Bafana. “We are the champions of Africa and we must start showing that, not only against Bafana but in all our remaining games,” Keshi said. Second-placed Congo play Sudan in Brazzaville in the other Group A match today. Claude Le Roy’s team will be hoping for a win at home. Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PU
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 05:55:36 +0000
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