Former Nigeria international, Tijani Babangida, has said that Nigeria’s continued dominance over South Africa in football is a mental thing.
He stated this in an interview with Complete Sports during the weekend ahead of today’s 2019 AFCON Group E qualifier in Uyo
According to Babangida, South Africa also suffers from ‘jinx’ issues besides having less talented players when compared to Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the rivalry between the Super Eagles’ and Bafana Bafana began after the South Africa’s 1996 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
He said: “One of the reasons why Nigeria have continued to dominate South Africa is that aside from having more talented players, there is the issue of jinx against Bafana.
“When you want to play a team and whatever you do they will always prevail over you, it becomes psychological. So I believe that is why Nigeria have continued to have the edge over South Africa.
“When Nigeria failed to attend the 1996 Nations Cup, South Africa came up with a good generation of players and became champions,” Babangida whose brace against the Bafana in a 2-0 semi-final win at the 2000 AFCON , toldCompletesportsnigeria.com.
“At that time, even before Nigeria was prevented from taking part at the 1996 AFCON, Nigeria at that time was the best team in Africa. But some believed the South African side would beaten Nigeria to rule Africa.
“We eventually met at the Cup of Nations in 2000 and we beat them, and since then, whenever Nigeria and South Africa played, both side never took it easy.
“So I believe the rivalry dates back to when the Bafana won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations.”
On the highly anticipated 2019 AFCON qualifier today in Uyo, the two-time AFCON star (2000, 2002), tipped Nigeria for victory.
He said: “Nigeria are going to parade one of the best teams for a long time. It is a team of very young players and a lot of them newly invited and want to show Nigerians what they can do and that will make it difficult for South Africa.”
After nine competitive games with Bafana, the Super Eagles have won six and drawn three.
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