The Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa will come alive tomorrow afternoon when 2013 African Cup of Nations winning team, The Super Eagles of Nigeria locks horns with its hosts, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in an international friendly encounter.
It could be recalled that the Super Eagles played their first two matches enroute to winning the 30th edition of the Nations Cup at the same stadium. Incidentally both games ended in stalemates against Zambia and Burkina Faso before Victor Moses brace ensured the Super Eagles qualification from the group stage.
Both countries- Nigeria and South Africa- were involved in tune up matches last week against Uganda and Swaziland.
Ephraim Mashaba and his boys are highly poised for this game owing largely to their stupendous effort in stopping the Super Eagles from defending their trophy at the last Afcon tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
It was a case of no victor, no vanquished when both sides met in the AFCON qualifiers. They settled for a goalless encounter at the Cape Town International Stadium, while the Super Eagles came from behind to force a 2-2 draw in the return leg at the Akwa Ibom international stadium, Uyo.
South Africa came out top in the group but unfortunately Nigeria failed to qualify from the group stage of the tournament.
South Africa had already confirmed that the team would be without Anele Ngcongca and May Mahlangu through injury, while Dean Furman’s club, Doncaster Rovers, had requested that the player be excused for this international break.
However, defender Eric Mathoho missed the Swaziland friendly due to family issues but is expected to start against the Super Eagles.
Mashaba will rely on Tokelo Rantie, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Orlando Pirates hitman, Lehlohonolo Majoro to torment the Eagles defence.
An interesting battle was highly anticipated between Kenneth Omeruo and Tokelo Rantie. The South African striker mesmerized the Nigerian with ease when they clashed in Uyo.
Nigeria still holds the bragging right over the South Africans who lagged behind in the head to head rating between both teams.
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