Baxter gets a hopeless start
Former SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter kicks off his second stint as Bafana Bafana coach facing an almost certain loss to Nigeria
New boss Stuart Baxter faces a virtual “mission impossible” as he sets out on his second stint in charge of the South African national team in Nigeria on Saturday. The 2019 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign starts in Uyo for Bafana Bafana with their toughest fixture in what will be a difficult group to try and qualify first. Baxter (63) has arrived at the helm more than three months later than the South African Football Association had planned - the effects of a botched selection process and protracted negotiations to wrestle the coach from the employ of SuperSport United. Chances of success have been further retarded by a lack of preparation time with Baxter having an effective five days to work with his squad before the game. Nigeria, in contrast, have been camping for two weeks in France as they prepare for the encounter and have had two warm-up friendlies. Last Thursday’s emphatic 3-0 win over Togo in Paris was a warning of what Bafana are up against as the Nigerians’ English-based Premier League stars turned on the skills with Alex Iwobi of Arsenal setting up goals for Leicester City’s Ahmed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City. It contrasts with the tired-looking performances and mounting injury toll in recent weeks among South Africa’s key players like Hlompho Kekana, Percy Tau and Dean Furman. They are at the end of a long and exhausting campaign. Baxter has tried in the build-up this week to put a brave face on the challenge, insisting he relishes the opportunity to try and improve a team that proved unconvincing under previous coach Shakes Mashaba. “I prefer the pressure of people expecting - being realistic, but expecting. That’s what we should be about. We should be expecting and hoping that we can qualify for the major tournaments,” he said. South Africa have never won a competitive international against Nigeria, although they gave away a late equaliser to draw their last game in Uyo in the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers. Baxter can draw some consolation from the fact he is not the first Bafana coach handed such a daunting opening assignment. Joel Santana also made his debut in charge of Bafana Bafana away in Nigeria in a qualifying match in June 2008. Bafana never were in the game and the 2-0 loss emphasised the Super Eagles’ superiority.