Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, coach of Bafana Bafana of South Africa, has promised the Super Eagles a tough time when the two countries clash in the African Cup of Nations qualifying match in Cape Town on Wednesday.
For the Group A clash, Eagles will meet a Bafana Bafana team buoyed by their 3-0 win away to Sudan last weekend. The Eagles, who are the defending champions, are under enormous pressure, as they lost their opening qualifying match at home, against all expectations, 2-3 to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Africa is a happy hunting ground for the Eagles, who famously won the 2013 African Cup of Nations and also beat the Bafana Bafana 3-1 in the 2014 CHAN tournament at the stadium where the two rivals will meet on Wednesday.
“This Nigeria team has been giving us nightmares, but we will fight in every game,” said Mashaba.
“When two Elephants meet, it is grass that suffers. Watch out, brace yourself for war that day [when Mashaba meets Keshi], because, like I have indicated earlier on, they [Nigeria], have given us sleepless nights.”
Mashaba, who replaced Gordon Igesund in July, believes South Africa are poised to change their fortunes. “This is one time they must brace themselves for war up to the fullest, it won’t be an easy walk in the park for both teams, but what we are looking for is to come out victorious and that win will change a lot of things in our football, both in administration, media wise, any structure that you talk about..
“We win that game [and] things will change for the better,” he added.
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