The quest for soccer supremacy between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana of South Africa will be rekindled in Sunday’s final Group A match at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The match in the 3rd edition of the competition being hosted by South Africa is a must win for the Eagles.
With a win and a draw already in their kitty, South Africa is looking forward to a tough match against the African champions, Nigeria in the last group encounter to try to test strength and superiority.
But for the Eagles, it is more serious than a mere test of strength — they will need an outright victory to progress to the knock out stage of the tournament, given that the current group standing was not in favour of the Nigerians.
In the, Group A, Mali tops with four points, same as South Africa, which also has four points, both having secured a win and a draw.
The Eagles currently has three points — a win and the loss of its opening game — while Mozambique with two losses in row is without a point and consigned as the weeping boy in the group.
The Eagles need a win over South Africa to qualify, while South Africa will be comfortable to sail through to the next stage with a draw which will give them five points.
Football pundits believe the Eagles still stand a chance to qualify from the group in spite of playing against the hosts, South Africa, which would have their supporters, massively behind them.
The pundits also believe that the Eagles had in the past survived such dicey situations and that the current one might not be any different.
Joseph Dosu, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, noted that the Eagles had won an important game when they pulled a 4-2 win against the Mambas of Mozambique.
According to him, it is that victory that had provided them the chance to still be in contention for the second round.
“The players and coaching crew understand this situation well enough to evolve a perfect strategy to rise to the challenge and ensure they qualify.
“Our most important match to me was against Mozambique because we needed that win to keep hopes alive.
“To win against the South Africans will mean that the national team will have to go all out to attack, while being vigilant in staving off counter attacks,’’ Dosu said.
Oladunni Oyekale, the Head Coach, Crown FC of Ogbomosho, said he expected that the South African will try to be defensive.
“The Eagles must then try to tear through such defensive tactics and go all out for the full three points’’.
According to Oyekale, the South Africans usually have a certain phobia for the invincibility of the Eagles which they (Eagles) ought to exploit to their advantage.
Oyekale said with what the Eagles played against the Mambas of Mozambique, “I am optimistic they cannot perform any less against South Africa.
“An early goal will do the trick of destabilising them because they only wish for a draw to qualify’’.
The current Eagles are no doubt a high scoring side as they have so far scored five goals and conceded four as against South Africa’s four goals but conceded two.
Fans from all walks of life are moblising and counting that the growing pedigree of the team will see it through to the next round.
