adminSouth Africa are confident of ending a depressing record against Nigeria when they clash today in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Cape Town showdown is a highlight of the 14-fixture matchday 2 schedule along with Cameroon-Ivory Coast in Yaoundé and Egypt-Tunisia in Cairo.
There were doubts whether the Nigeria game would go ahead, but controversially-elected national football federation boss Chris Giwa stepped aside to prevent a worldwide Fifa ban.
African governing body Caf had warned Nigeria that failure to play in South Africa would have resulted in disqualification from the competition.
Reigning African champions Nigeria have won five and drawn one of six matches against South Africa in the World Cup and Cup of Nations.
The countries made contrasting Group A debuts last weekend with South Africa winning 3-0 in Sudan while Nigeria were stunned 3-2 by visiting Congo Brazzaville.
It was a dream start for new South Africa coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba and a young, much-changed side with Sibusiso Vilakazi scoring twice in the stamina-sapping Omdurman heat.
Nigeria surrendered a 46-match unbeaten home record in Cup of Nations qualifiers and looked a shadow of the team that overcame Burkina Faso 1-0 in the 2013 final to win a third African title. — Supersport
Online Reporter
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