Three talking points about Nigeria ahead South Africa clash

By 2pm Nigeria time today, the Super Eagles will file out against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the return leg of the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Sportinglife.ng takes a look at three talking points ahead of the clash.

Number of Caps

13 of Nigeria’s 23-man squad are yet to reach the double figure in terms of caps‚ with five players having featured in two or less games.  Enyimba goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai and striker Samuel Chukwueze who is making
his debut are the two uncapped players. Stand-in-captain, Ahmed Musa is the most capped player in the Nigeria team with 78  caps.

Bafana’s most capped star is Itumeleng Khune (90)‚ with the next highest the duo of followed by Thulani Hlatshwayo and Thulani Serero (37 each).

Rohr Factor

Gernot Rohr is the third foreigner to lead the team in the last 17 years after Berti Vogts and Lars Lagerback. He looks good to qualify the team for the Africa Cup of Nations next year in Cameroon. Rohr has held onto the post for two years and has won 19 of 31 games in charge, six draws and six defeats.

He has managed to hold onto the post for two years and he looks likely to extend his stay further when his team qualifies for the Nations Cup (either this weekend or in March against Seychelles).

Eagles Good Run

Nigeria remain unbeaten in their last three matches after returning from the FIFA World Cup in Russia and have scored 10 goals and conceded two.

South Africa were the last African side to beat the Eagles at the start of the qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, last year June. Egypt were the first in 2016

Their last 10 Nations Cup qualifiers on the road have yielded four wins‚ four draws and two defeats.