We will stop Eagles’ revenge mission declares Baxter
Despite reportedly being under intense pressure to qualify South Africa for the next AFCON in Cameroon, Bafana Bafana Coach Stuart Baxter has declared that his boys will find their rhythm insisting that they are not afraid of Nigeria as both sides prepare for the battle FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The former Finland coach said he knows that the only thing in the mind of Coach Gernot Rohr and his team is to get a revenge after the 2-0 defeat at home adding the his job is make sure that dream doesn’t come to pass.
Interestingly both teams appear to have a level playing field with last minute injury worries to contend with.
While Rohr has been forced to adjust his team following injuries to Odion Ighalo and Francis Uzoho, Baxter is also bracing up to battle the Eagles without Kamohelo Mokotjo, Bongani Zungu, Dean Furman, Keagan Dolly and Bradley Grobler.
While the Eagles who lead the group will be home and dry with a draw, South Africa will need a win to brighten her chances of picking a ticket to Cameroon
‘‘Everybody knows what I said in the first press conference that despite the injuries, I want to speak about the players that we do have because even though we respect Nigeria we do not fear them,” said Baxter ahead of this weekend’s qualifier.
‘‘I think we have still enough talent‚ enough desire and if we can structure a game plan in the next three or four days‚ I think by the time we run out onto the FNB Stadium we would be confident‚ we would not be complacent‚ because Nigeria have just come from a World Cup.
“They will certainly want to wreak their revenge. So‚ we will be ready and I still believe that we have a very good chance of getting the result that we need,” he enthused.
The duo of Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau whose goals in the first leg gave South Africa the bragging right, will be hoping to replicate the feat at home in front of their vociferous fans.
Fans of both teams reacting ahead of the showdown maintain that it will full of fireworks, noting however that the team that will ultimate sing the victory song is the one that able to avoid momentary loss of concentration.