Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has said the Super Eagles always have the psychological edge whenever they face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
The Super Eagles will continue their quest to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup when they face Bafana Bafana on Tuesday.
In the Group C reverse fixture, the Nigerian team came from 1-0 down to force a 1-1 draw with the South Africans in Uyo in matchday 3.
After seven matches Bafana Bafana are top in the group with 16 points while the Super Eagles are third on 10 points.
Bafana Bafana Poor Record Against Super Eagles
However, the South Africans know they have their work cutout for them due to their not too impressive record against the Super Eagles.
In 16 meetings with the three-time AFCON champions, Bafana Bafana have managed just two wins, recorded six draws and have suffered eight defeats.
In the last four meetings between both teams, the Super Eagles have secured two wins and two draws.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: South Africa Under More Pressure To Beat Super Eagles –Ex-Nigeria International
Ahead of the crucial fixture in Bloemfontein Ikpeba, who never lost against Bafana Bafana as a Super Eagles player (two wins, one draw), said on SuperSport after the game against Rwanda:”Football, sometimes is a mindset, it’s a psychological thing, we always have that psychological edge against the South Africans. When you look at the statistics at the 2019 AFCON the South Africans were very good and they crumbled against us.
“In 2023 they crumbled so that pattern is there and I think on Tuesday the South Africans will be more under pressure so it’s for them to lose and that makes it more difficult for the South Africans against the Super Eagles.”
‘We Always Edge Them In The Important Matches’
“They know we have what it takes to beat them, they play as a team, have a good manager, Hugo Broos, who have done well but we’ve always have the edge against them when it comes to matches that are very important for both countries.
“I hope our boys can exploit that and take this game to them, they will make mistakes, they are beatable,” the 1994 AFCON title winner added.
By James Agberebi
3 Comments
In as much as I love and wish SE well, it saddens me that these ex-internationals are not making the right recommendations. That is comments which way forward for us after witnessing a match that we struggled for creativity. Yet we will be coming up against a team that creates chances and buries them.
I will be here to blast these guys if they start noting our weaknesses in the event of God forbid a negative result. Because I believe when we address the team’s deficiencies beforehand, then the coaches will know where to work on. Instead of hoping to carry on with this lack of creativity and hope to see miracle chances against a team that knows how to use the ball and space.
Nigeria has to win and we are all in this together so we must speak the truth in love. Not everyone understands sports deeply rooted that is why this caution is coming from me and just a few. But our voices are limited to CS online. That’s all we can do and hope for the best!
Would you have the right to demand utmost performance from your staff when you owe them salaries for years or tell others “this is the apple of my eye”?
When was the last time we played great football with these players?
For me, I’ve made peace with “just grind out wins” anyhow.
Win ugly. Win is win more so when they are not “motivated”
Lmao….why don’t you lay a curse on them for expressing their thought and not making the right recommendation according to you….lmao….but please lay the curse in Chinese languages…. hahahaha… Heard it’s more effective than Spanish.
Lmao foolish primitive illiterate in America hahahaha