South Africa captain Thulani Hlatshwayo believes the team can achieve another big feat by knocking out three-time champions, Nigeria from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Completesports.com reports.
The Bafana Bafana only picked a spot in the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams in the competition after winning one (1-0 vs Namibia) and losing two (1-0 to Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco) in Group D. Rhey finished third behind Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.
But the 1996 winners recorded a shock 1-0 win against hosts Egypt in their second round game at the Cairo International Stadium last Saturday.
Hlatshwayo believes the win will spur his side to perform well against the Super Eagles.
“We knew coming into the game with Egypt that we had to bring heroics. We had to prove to everyone but more importantly to our nation and ourselves, that we can deliver. Our preparation for that game was intense, we knew we had to give it everything we had, and that paid off,” Hlatshwayo told the Bafana Bafana media.
“We’ve now made it into the AFCON quarterfinals for the 6th time in our history, this gives us an opportunity to really chase our dream to win. Our next game is against our biggest rival team, Nigeria.”
Hlatshwayo added: “We know playing them will be tough, but we have a clear understanding of our mission, and we’ll give it our all once again. This is an opportunity for us to regain trust from the fans, to truly discover our identity and have confidence in our capabilities. As captain, I’m confident in the team and what we can achieve.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us to perform well, therefore it is our intention to do our best. It is no longer just about participating but about earning our place on the greatest stage in Africa.
“Whatever the outcome, this is only the beginning for us. I believe that this is a new era and opportunity to do well and participate more in global football competitions. The hope for this tournament is to bring the confidence South Africans once had in us when the team won the tournament in 1996.”
By Adeboye Amosu in Alexandria
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COMMENTS
don’t only give your all,,if you like give your life.Nigeria will still beat u black and blue..just keep bragging.. when the game set.. u will know the difference between “I was there” and “i shall be there”..nevertheless super eagles need to up their game oh,to avoid stories that touch.. God bless Nigeria..
You won in 1996 because super Eagle the then defending champion were not there.
Thanks to President ABA…if you join am with CHA, na you sabi ooooooo!
We are not your rival. boy.what will you then call Ghana and cameroun? Mind your language skippo.its just 48hours away. God bless Nigeria
You are not our rivals, my friend! Stop that ninsense. U should know the class u belong to, abeg. For your information,our rivals are cameroun,ghana and zambia,not u. I can see pride and arrogance written all over ur faces, just bcs u mistakenly beat Egypt. I’ve been following some SA soccer sites like kickoff and it beats my imagination how u guys are boasting up and down that you’ll beat us. Don’t be deceived, ur win against Egypt was a wonderful fluke. But, Don’t worry, u shall be humbled come Wednesday.
Oakfield, no mind them. Na dia way. They are a strong side, but too boastful for their own good. On Wednesday, we go see how far. After all that lion meat wey we wack this weekend, it will be nice to have some Banana Banana, since banana is rich in potassium and fiber! UP EAGLES!!!
Lol@ Pompeii, in fact, I even still have some stored in my fridge, used part of it to cook jollof rice on Sunday..lol..omoh,the meat sweet die eh!!! Lol..south African banana go make sense, u know it goes very well with jollof..lol
How is Zambia our rival,or do you start watching football in 2017?
Go through our football history (from the mid 80s and 90s and even in the new millennium) and you’ll discover u just started watching football this year. Ignorance and over sabi are a disease…@larry.
I think he is right on point, we are their biggest rival both politically, football wise and entertainment.
But, unfortunately Nigeria doesn’t see South Africa as such, rather when it comes to football we have Cameroon mostly at heart to worry about, because of the 1984,1988 and 2000 AFCON final lost that gave them 3 out of the 5 trophy they have won so far.
As for South Africa, we always beat them, I believe that is why the see us as their bitter and biggest rival in African soccer.
To me, I really don’t understand the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, people sometimes said that, what we have with Ghana, is sibling rivalry, which I still find had to believe.
But, that been said, Ghana has good head to head record than us.
Still we really don’t have any scores to settle with them, trust me.
Cameroon is our bitter rival in Africa take it or leave it.
What had Maurizio sarri won as a coach before managing chelsea…..what had westerhoff won as a coach before managing the SE….what had bonfrere won as coach before atlanta 96…..what had keshi won as a coach before 2013.
And help your ignorance, he has a UEFA cup silver medal as coach of Bordeaux as well as a Swiss cup medal as coach of Young boys FC.
Pls learn to update yourself before coming to disgrace yourself in public.
We can be rivals in any other thing in Africa,but when it comes to football we are not.Check the stats,numbers don’t lie.
South Africa have a way of making the referee the twelve players on the field. Nigeria better watch out. Hope every body remember what happened when we played them last time . Goals were being canceled anyhow by the referee.
There will be VAR
How are we your rival Mr Bidvest FC, you have only beaten us once in an official match in Uyo, We have always been whooping your ass always and it will happen again on Wednesday, ur men are blabbing on Twitter and ur sporting websites…we shall see
If Madagascar can whip you,’Banana Banana can beat Egypt in Cairo and the very same banana can eat an eaglet in Uyo (whatever that is), what stops banana from eating the eaglet again? The fact that you’ve beaten a team six times before won’t count.
If God is in our side who can be against us bafana bafana is not a treat to super Eagle I wish you best of luck in the evening. We are crossing the Red Sea by going to our promise land