Bafana Bafana boss Stuart Baxter has challenged his manne to reproduce their famous win over Nigeria in Uyo last year in Saturday’s 3 pm Soccer City clash.
The Afcon Group E qualifier sees the Super Eagles lead South Africa by a single point at the top of the section.
Victory for either team will put them in the driver’s seat going into the final round.
Bafana has already proven that they have the drive and talent to beat Naija 2-0 courtesy of Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau strikes last June -SA’s first competitive win over the continental powerhouses.
And coach Baxter wants his second-placed team to lift their game and down the west Africans in steamy Joburg, where the mercury is set to hit the mid-30s.
He says: “We need to stifle them and not give them any momentum. They [players] need to relax at the right time and be aggressive at the right time.
“I don’t believe the ongoing heat wave will be an issue to either side, after all, most of Nigeria’s players play overseas.”
Bafana has not conceded a goal in their four matches in the campaign to date and Baxter says that while his manne need to improve, they have looked sharp in training.
He reckons: “I have an idea of what I need to do although there might be one or two changes and I also need to fine-tune a few areas ahead of Saturday’s game. But I must say that I was very happy with the training.
“We have not yet picked the final team for Saturday’s game.”