AFCON 2019 qualifier: Super Eagles brace for Bafana Bafana test

Elderson Echiejile has warned that the Super Eagles cannot afford to underestimate South Africa in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Nigeria faces Stuart Baxter’s men at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in her quest for a ticket to 2019 Afcon.
And still fresh from Bafana Bafana stopping the three-time African champions from qualifying for Equatorial Guinea 2015, the defender was optimistic of qualifying for Cameroon.
Nevertheless, he was adamant Baxter’s men have what it takes to cause Nigeria problems if they are not fully focused.
‘’When it comes to African football, South Africa have a good team and they play fast football. Each time we play them it has never been easy,’’ Echiejile told media during Thursday’s media parley.
‘’We don’t have to think about them stopping us from the Nations Cup [Equatorial Guinea 2015], all we want is play the next Afcon.
‘’This is our first game and we have to start very well because we are playing a very good side.
‘’All we have to do is concentrate on the game tactically, give everything and hope for a good result.’’
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana coach, Stuart Baxter said it’s vital that they try and keep it tight and silence the crowd in Uyo on Saturday.
South Africa will lock horns with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifer.
“I think we’ve got to shut the crowd up. That’s one of our big jobs. If we let the crowd get excited and Nigeria enjoy the game, then I think that’s going to be a big plus for them,” Baxter told the media.
Bafana’s main intention is to frustrate their hosts, bearing in mind that history will be against them in Nigeria.
“I think we can turn that around and frustrate them a bit, and be better than they think and have more to say than they think, then maybe the crowd could be a bit negative for them,” Baxter said.
“With the mental part of the game, the boys have to feel that this is one where we can spoil the party a bit. We can make it difficult for Nigeria,” Baxter added.
The last time both teams met in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2014 in Uyo it ended 2-2, a result which stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2015 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.