AFCON
Etafia, Former Nigeria Goalkeeper Now Based In South Africa, Says Advantage Not Totally On Super Eagles’ Side –
Retired Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia who is now based in South Africa has reportedly remarked that the upper hand the Super Eagles have over Bafana Bafana will not give the Nigeria team an edge in their duel on Wednesday.
Etafia had four international appearances with Nigeria in 2003 when he was with Plateau United before joining South Africa’s Moroka Swallows.
According to Sowetan, a South African newspaper, the experience that South African players have gained in CAF Champions League will work in Bafana Bafana’s favour when they face the Super Eagles on Wednesday in a semi-final duel of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, d’Ivoire.
The South African team is largely composed of players from Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the inaugural African Football League.
Although in head-to-head clashes, the Super Eagles have the upper hand, the retired Etafia cautioned that the Nigerian side should not rely so much on this.
Etafia believes the experience Bafana players – with the majority of them playing for Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League – will make it difficult for Nigeria.
“Nigeria always has the upper hand in terms of tournaments. The last time I remember South Africa beat them was when Percy Tau scored in 2017 with Stuart Baxter as a coach [2019 Afcon qualifier],” Etafia said on Monday.
“The last time Nigeria won against South Africa was in 2019, so they always have the upper hand in terms of tournament football. I can’t remember SA beating Nigeria in the tournaments, but in football anything can happen.
“This Bafana team, they are looking good. They are organised, more especially the majority of the team are coming from one team that has been doing well in African football, which is very interesting. But it’s going to be a very good game with the best defensive teams playing. We will see how it goes.”
Etafia said the reason Nigeria has always enjoyed playing against Bafana is because most of their players play in big leagues in Europe and face a lot of big games, which helps them.
“The good thing about the SA team now is that the majority of the side have been playing in the Champions League and they have the ability to take the pressure, which is very important. In a tournament like Afcon, you need that calmness. That’s why you saw Ronwen Williams show in the quarterfinal and that’s the only advantage,” he said.
“Both sides have been doing well in the tournament, so you have both sides who have experience in the African Champions League and you have the other side who have experience in European football but now they are back playing in African land. They know how to manage the game. At the end of the day, whoever takes the opportunity will have a chance to win the game.”
What a turn-around! After four previous competitive matches without a win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning mentality after a 3-0 defeat of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The win also put the Super Eagles at the top of the Group D after both Libya and Rwanda played 1-1 draw last Thursday.
It is also the biggest win by the Super Eagles since their 2023 6-0 win over Sao Tome & Principe last year September.
Great man Ademola Lookman, he put in two goals straightening the possibility of his emerging as 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
The current title holder, Victor Osimhen proved his mettle coming off the bench in the second half to double Nigeria’s lead after Lookman’s late first half goal.
The Super Eagles will now honour their next fixture against Rwanda on Tuesday with the hope of consolidating their lead.
Benin Republic with no points and a deficit of three goals are rooted at the bottom of the log.
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea has called on all Nigerians to rally round and pray for the Super Eagles ahead of Saturday’s Morocco 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo.
Ikpea who is mobilizing support for the Super Eagles ahead of the clash in Uyo said that whatever Benin Republic come with both spiritually and physically in the game, we will surely overcome them.
“In the NFSC we have Christians, Muslims as well as those who believe in traditional worship and we respect the rights of freedom of worship of every member and all Nigerians.
“When we are faced with this kind of crucial game, we call on everyone to pray through their various believes because we foresee that Benin Republic are most likely coming to fall back on ‘black magic’ to enable them perfect a back-to-back victory over our Super Eagles after beating us 2-1 in our last meeting in a World Cup qualifier”
“We cannot underestimate the efficacy of the black magic” Ikpea further stressed, “but we believe that when we come together we can neutralize it’s efficacy.
“This is no time to sleep, we all have to rally round and do our best to support our Super Eagles because they cannot do it alone without the prayers and support of all Nigerians.
“While charging Nigerians to be positive with the team, we at the NFSC have done everything positive to overturn whatever plans they are coming with and we enjoin everyone to toe that path through prayers”.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles camp is bubbling with training in Uyo, as team Coach Austin Eguavoen, has been working hard to perfect tactics with the boys and ensure the Super Eagles soar on Saturday.
The Super Eagles have not won a qualifying match for any competition since their 6-0 defeat of Principe & Sao Tome on 10th September 2023 in Uyo. That was their last qualifying match for Cote d’Ivoire 2023 played in 2024.
Since then, they have played four World Cup qualifying matches without a win despite being the overwhelming favourites at those matches.
A forensic analysis of their World Cup qualifying since that of Qatar 2022 will reveal they had played seven consecutive matches without a win starting from their 1-1 home draw with Cape Verde in Lagos which qualified them for the play off. In the play off with Ghana, the Super Eagles drew the two matches.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they have gone four matches, getting three draws and a loss. The prospect of their getting a straight qualification from the group is doubtful as they have a mountain to climb by winning the remaining six matches, three of which are away duels of which are most likely to be played in South Africa, the home ground of their main rivals.
Zimbabwe and Lesotho play their home matches in South Africa and Nigeria also still have an away duel with Bafana Bafana.
The qualification series of AFCON 2025 presents the Super Eagles a new beginning. Starting from the semi-finals of the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, the team has won none of their four competitive matches in regulation time. The players have a date with destiny in Uyo this Saturday to wipe off the sagging image they have had in recent time.
A win will give the team the confidence expected in anticipation for future fixtures.
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