South Africa v Nigeria – 2019 AFCON Qualifier, 17 November, FNB Stadium, 15

afana Bafana host the Super Eagles in an important 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier at Soccer City in what should be a thrilling encounter between two teams with a rich history and rivalry that transcends decades. The last time the two countries

Message from the captain Dean Furman – SuperSport United and Bafana Bafana captain

“Playing Nigeria is always a huge game and I think, of all my Bafana games, the game against Nigeria is one of my highlights. We know it is going to be a great game because there are top players from both sides of the pitch. It is going to be a very difficult game because both sets of players will live up to the expectations. Last year when we went to Nigeria, we went there with respect for our opponents but without fear. We really showed that on the pitch and felt we did enough to win the game. I think we grew into the game, although it took a little while. Once that happened, our confidence grew and then we started playing really met, it was coach Stuart Baxter’s men that walked away with all three points in their 2-0 win courtesy of Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau goals in Uyo, on June 10, 2017. This was Bafana’s first ever victory over their archrivals in a competitive match. It was that great per- well. I felt our performance was one of the best we’ve played as a team and we were deserving winners. So we can take a lot of comfort from that game going into this one. Nigeria have done well since then and even went to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and it is amazing how they’ve turned around this group, as they’re now sitting on top of our group. We’ve got an opportunity to turn things around into our favour and I hope the stadium will be filled to capacity with the majority of our supporters. I’m definitely going to be there with my wife and family to support the boys. I hope it is going to be a good game and that we come out top again. My message to the boys is just simple. They must just go out there full of confidence and believing that we can do it. There’s no point in going out there thinking that we are playing the mighty Nigeria – no, we have to be confident in what we’ve got. We’ve got some top-class players and we showed Nigeria the last time that we can be a match to anyone. We’ve got to go out there full of confidence because we know it is going to be a difficult battle. The Nigerians are big and strong, but I’m pretty sure we can cause them a lot of problems at FNB and hope the stadium will be packed with our supporters making it intimidating for the Nigerian team and really getting behind the boys.”

Message from a legend Thulasizwe Mbuyane – Former Bafana Bafana striker

“Our people have not been supporting the team enough formance that gave South Africans on the other hand, the retur a reason to believe that Bafana couldn’t come soon enough would definitely qualify for the next they’ve been made to regret AFCON, although they’ve let theming their good record agains selves down a couple of times along rivals. Come Saturday, the g the way, instead of maintaining andthe white army will be out good run. For coach Gernot Rohr’s venge while Bafana will be charges and their whole country, to prove the first leg win wa and that’s very sad. The boys need our support, especially for this game, so that we can qualify for the next AFCON. This is one game we need to win so that we secure our place and, for the boys to do that, they need the whole country’s support. We are playing against one of the stronger teams in our group and the continent. To do well on Saturday, we just need the supporters in their numbers to rally behind the team. With our support behind them, the boys will definitely do the rest. It feels great going out there to represent the country with your people fully behind you, instead of playing in front of empty chairs. I wish the guys all the best and that the sup-supsup- porters wil l pack FNB Stadium to ccapacity.” duma’s Thom mas Kwenaite, the e man who can n terrorize any def fence with his phys sical strength, skill l and electrifying pa ace, as well as the ab bility to get behind de efences and provide a assists, reveals that h his teammates are com ming to South Africa for one thing and one e thing only – to beat Bafa ana Bafana in Johannesburg g and extract revenge for th hat shocking 2-0 defeat.

Thomas Kwenaite: Hi Odion, You just cannot stop scoring either for club or country, what is behind your current scoring form?

Odion Jude Ighalo: I’m a striker and my job is to score goals. For me, it has just been work, hard work and more hard work. I’m happy with my form, but the whole team deserves praise because without them it would not

have been possible. TK: You have done pretty well for yourself and are currently second on the scoring charts in China with 21 goals. That’s an incredible return... OI: Like I said, I have been working really hard recently and it is obviously paying off. But perhaps I am hard on myself and I have been pushing myself harder. Nothing beats hard work and for me it is about challenging myself, doing well for my club and for my country. Winning the Golden Boot would be an honour, but I’m not putting myself under undue pressure. I am just enjoying my football for the moment. TK: You have played in England, Italy, Spain and now in China