South Africa coach, Stuart Baxter has said that his defenders will stop the ball from getting to Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, when both teams clash in Wednesday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, at the Cairo International Stadium.
He also expressed confidence that the Bafana Bafana will beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria again.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday ahead of South Africa’s clash with Nigeria on Wednesday, Baxter told reporters: “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.
“It is true that we got a good result against Egypt, but we have to stay grounded. We may have to try different things from what we did against Nigeria in the past, but we are confident of beating them again.”
Baxter added: “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 [Ighalo]. It is up to our back four to do that.
“The midfielders too have to help screen the defence.”
South Africa only defeated Nigeria once in a competitive game. Baxter’s side defeated the three-time African champions with a 2-0 win in Uyo in the qualifiers for AFCON 2019 back in 2017.
The reverse fixture in South Africa ended 1-1.
Comments