South Africa head coach Stuart Baxter says he has total respect for the Super Eagles, but insists his team will be bold in their approach when they come up against the three-time champions in Wednesday’s quarterfinal clash at the Cairo International Stadium, reports Completesports.com
The Bafana Bafana have only defeated the Super Eagles only once in a competitive game. They stunned Eagles with a 2-0 win in Uyo in the qualifiers for AFCON 2019. The reverse fixture in South Africa ended 1-1.
While the Super Eagles are one of the overwhelming favourites to win the competition, the Bafana Bafana who pulled one of the competition’s remarkable results by knocking out hosts Egypt, are given an outside chance.
There is also a gulf in class between both teams with Nigeria flaunting a number of
Super Eagles players playing for top clubs in Europe.
Baxter expresses his admiration for the Nigerian team while also hinting that his team will not be intimidated by their opponents.
Bafana Bafana
“We definitely respect the Super Eagles, but not afraid of them. They are one of the Superpowers in African football, and we have to respect that, but on the pitch things will be different, ” Baxter told a news conference in Cairo on Tuesday.
“It is true that we got a good result against Egypt, but we have to stay gounded. We may have to try different things from what we did against Nigeria in the past, but we are confident of beating them again.
To beat the Super Eagles, Baxter’s men must find a way of stopping Odion Ighalo, who is the joint top scorer in the competition with three goals alongside Senegal’s Saido Mane.
Baxter says Bafana Bafana will find a way of stopping Igho who is in great form.
“We don’t make plans to stop individual players , rather we will do it as a team. We will find a way of stopping the ball from getting to him. It is up to our back four to do that. The midfielders too have to help screen the defence,” he stated.
By Adeboye Amosu (pix: by Ganiyu Yusuf) in Cairo
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COMMENTS
See this old man o. Anyways, South Africa 0 Nigeria 3
Good talk from a confident coach. The battle line is drawn but let me quickly remind you that the setting is quite different from the capitulation in uyo. The Gambian referee and his linesmen save you from embarrassing defeat at home and possibly afcon exit. The match promises to be trilling and exciting but only one team will win. Am impressed with your win against Egypt and how you achieve it. Nigeria is a different opposition from Egypt and if they come up with their grade A match which they are yet to display in this tournament you will be beaten well. I expect Musa to come to the party tomorrow. I expect improved performance from our defence against Pacy Tau who can cause damage to any team. The match would be won in the midfield and Ndidi, Etebo supported by Iwobi are up to the task. Just like against Cameroon I have this inner feeling that we will do the job. Yes Nigeria shall win.
If ever Rohr decide to leave this job which I suspect he is already planning to do,because of the incessant, senseless abuse n disrespect, he is getting from nigerians, then I will suggest NFF go for Baxter n Oliseh or Amunike. He is a good manager with lots of belief n very strong personality. But first we have to teach him some lessons by putting his pant down n give him some proper latch as initiation.
Rohr is going no where enemies of progress!!..or do you think he is a fool to leave a power house like Nigeria for minnows?.. Nigeria has the resources , players and exposure to keep his name on the news , therefore he is not going anywhere if he wins AFCON!!..He will be taking us to the next AFCON in Cameroon /World cup!!
Super Eagles actually defeated Bafana Bafana 3-1 in their backyard but the refs disallowed our two clinical goals. I hope that will not repeat itself. Thank God VAR will be used from quarter final matches. We shall not entertain human errors which could be delibrate.
OK, well said coach, we shall see what’s gonna happen tomorrow. You need to be put in the right place once and for all. Una mouth don do. Beating Egypt (a lucky win though) has given u false confidence that has made u feel u can do same to Nigeria again. Pikin wey No know him mama boyfriend Dy call am brother. For your info,We have unfinished business with you, mr! The defeat to us in uyo is still fresh in our hearts and we’ve been itching for an opportunity to deal with u mercilessly. Thank God an opportunity has presented itself on a big stage, we shall knock u into one corner like a cornered rat. It is well…
It wasn’t lucky win Oakfield, the play better than the Egyptians….. The were just unlucky to score 1 goal, the would have scored more in that game, but the missed a lot of chances. Egypt had only one clear cut chance throughout the whole game…..and that is the defence splitting tailored pass from Mo Salad to Treuzeguet. Watch the reply.
I’m new in this forum….. South Africa head coach, Stuart Baxter have something I admired so much that our Coach Genot Rohr does’nt have…….and that thing is call CONFIDENCE ! Super Eagles have to be very careful with Bafana Bafana, the play beautiful football with strong cohesion, tactical discipline, collective and individual brilliance, which is display with their movement with the ball. Baxter is so confidence because he has a game plan and that’s to use his pacy intelligent players on counter attack, which our slow defenders will not be able to cope with….. Our team must try to avoid dead ball too, by not commiting unnecessary fouls with the goal area, the are very, very good in set pieces, the best I have seen so far in this tournament.
I must agree that the Bafana Bafana came into this tournament a much improved side.
Another factor in their favour is the fact that they seem to be more motivated to win the game in order to prove that their first win against us wasn’t a fluke. However, the fact remains that we are a more experienced side. If the Super Eagles really want to, they can spank these boys 3:0 (unless, God forbid, Akpeyi decides to reduce the margin for them with a few blunders).
And that their big mouthed coach! Hope Ighalo and co can shut him up for us tomorrow!
@ soccer45, but u know as well that confidence is not far from arrogance in football,i think i prefer rohr comments before every match deflecting the pressure off his team,u said bafana bafana play all those …. but i rmbr when we played them in joburg we dominate them score 2 clean goals that were disallowed,egypt undoing is their inability to hold the ball in the midfield which plays so easily into s.a hand against us they will meet a midfield that can hold on to the ball and spray better thus creating issue to thems.a are not good in d middle as well just a very good counter attacking team..thankz VAR will be in play cos a lot of these ref need help seriously…
Mentioning set piece, S.A are not a good side on that. The best in this afcon was DRC and they are out. SA are good but not when the eagles are in the party
No @soccer45, Baxter is not a confident coach. He’s an irredeemable BRAGGART. Listen to his press conferences, it’s always about him and his team. He never gives credit to the opposition, even when he loses. How does a confident coach sound? Klopp, Mourinho, Guardiola. They coach fantastic teams, but you’ll never hear them say; “Oh forget it, we’ll beat the opposition!” Instead, they’ll say something like “It’s a 50-50 and we hope to play to our optimum best tomorrow and hopefully get another 3 points.”
And talking about the Uyo match, that was a blip. 1. It was Rohr’s first game in charge. 2. His dossier on SA showed they’re not real rivals, so he experimented with a team comprising the likes of Iheanacho (when he was starting to bumble and we haven’t really noticed), young and inexperienced Etebo, Awaziem, ageing Echiejile and non-confident Akpeyi.
When the SE full house showed up in SA (Ndidi was even absent), they struggled to play a draw. And tomorrow, they’ll be coming up against a full strength. Not to worry, every leakage at the back should be sealed with Collins and Abdullahi hopefully back. Rohr is also hoping to catch the loudmouth Baxter off guard by drawing attention away from his team. I read somewhere, Rohr plans to deploy a 3-5-2, with 2 wings backs supporting a 2-man attack of possibly Ighalo and Osimhen. I’m expecting a loud statement from SE tomorrow to shut Baxter up in a resounding way!
Thank you Guys for all your comments…… Bafana Bafana is much improved side now compare to the one we played in Joburg. Give them space they will destroy you……the play a typical South America partern football…….and you can see that with their movement with the ball or set play. Super Eagles of lately create a lot of space for the opponent to operate because the are applying zonal marking rather than man to man marking which to me is the best. I don’t think our 4-3-3 formation will help, that will create a lot of space for them to operate…. Rohr needs to tighten the midfied because of their pacy forwards….. If we can control the midfield and our attack can utilise their chance then we will sail through…..
Don’t worry brother , Super Eagles takes their opponents as it comes !!..you will be surprised how we will render Bafana Bafana sluggish , all those their garagara will vanish tomorrow .No team survive against the Super Eagles when they want to prove a point !!..I am confident we will spank Bafana three nill tomorrow!!
U are an idiot@soccer45
For now..their main weakness is strength..they can match speed for speed. But my joy is that we add dribbles to ours. Go back and Watch them against Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire my eyes are on Etebo, Indidi, Iwobi and Ighalo that day.i keep having feelings that it will be very easy.
And you think we dont have a game plan abi, no worry we go jam for pitch.
For me South Africa have not yet impressed me so much
so far they lost there two matches in group stage and win against low rated Namibia and where lucky to be among third best
Against Egypt I can’t rate them with that match because Egypt was disorganised without purpose
On a good day they they can’t beat Egypt a typical example is what happened to Nigeria vs Madagascar match that does not mean that Madagascar is better than us
If Nigeria play as they played against Cameroon I don’t see South Africa standing our way without Nigeria scoring like three goals or more
The real test of strength of south Africa is vs Nigeria which I don’t think they can stand
Anyway tomorrow is not far we shall see
This is an insult to Nigeria. This ridiculous. Beating South Africa shouldn’t be a problem tomorrow but I’m boldly saying it today that coach Rohr is not the right manager to coach Super Eagles.
The South African coach has his own plan. He knows what to do because he knew the kind of coach we have.
All I am expecting to see from our coach is this. He will just ask his players to just put the ball on the pitch and score. That is it.
No game plan. Nothing. If I were coach Rohr, this is simple tactics I’m going to use against this boastful South African team.
I will tell my players to attack together and defend together and make sure you give no room for them to operate. Create so many chances to score goals.
Any day any time, we are not in the same level with South Africa team.
For this reason and with the caliber of players have, I am expecting Super Eagles to beat Bafana Bafana 3-0 they have to win convincingly. Enough of this boastful thing. God bless Nigeria!!!
Clown talking. Mmmttccchheww Okada abeg carry me pass this bus stop. E no pure for here
@Omo9ja. You have really become a worthless comedian on this platform.Sorry for you. We don your bus-stop te te. You shame continues tomorrow.
This is unnecessary sir. He only aired his opinion, u can do same without being disrespectful.
“He will just ask his players to just put the ball on the pitch and score. That is it. No game plan. Nothing. If I were coach Rohr, this is simple tactics I’m going to use against this boastful South African team…………I will tell my players to attack together and defend together and make sure you give no room for them to operate. Create so many chances to score goals.”.
.
.
Hahahahaha….U sabi anything naim we never they see you exploits for global space…??? LMAO
Abeg my people which one is easier…to give your players this simple and clear instruction “just put the ball on the pitch and score” just 10 words, or all the dogon turanci (meaning long story in hausa language) that this oversabi is spilling here…”I will tell my players to attack together and defend together and make sure you give no room for them to operate. Create so many chances to score goals.”….the instruction doesn’t even include actual scoring sef….LMAO.
Abi wat does it profit a team that attacks and defends together, do not give room for opponents to operate, creates scoring chances but does not score…??? Lolz
If you dont score, how you wan win match…?
I bet it super eagle will destroy nd kill off south africa come tommrw. I hate nonsense, are we mates with south africa? Am asking u guys????
SA are no match for Nigeria any day any time. A team that qualified with a negative goal difference is now confidence of beating Nigeria.anyway, wonder shall never end. I expect the Super eagles to teach them football lesson for them to realise that we are not in the same level.