Former Bafana Bafana captain, Neil Tovey has offered the team tips on what they must do to beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Hugo Broos’ side will be targeting a place in the final at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they take on the Super Eagles at the Stade de la Paix, Bouake on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles are the favourites to win the title following the elimination of big guns like Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
Bafana Bafana lost 2-1 to Nigeria the last time both countries met in the competition five years ago.
They are also expected to play second fiddle to the Super Eagles again this time around going by the quality of players on both teams.
Tovey, who captained South Africa to AFCON glory on home soil in 1996, stated the players must fight hard to win the game.
“It is going to be very tough against Nigeria — a final before the final,” Tovey told AFP via Daily Mail.
“We have suffered many defeats against them, starting with a four-goal mauling in a 1994 World Cup qualifier. More recently, however, the tide has begun to turn.
“What we dare not do in Bouake is retreat into a defensive shell. That would be playing into the hands of the Nigerians.
“South Africa must approach the match in a similar manner to the game against Morocco — defend in depth when necessary but also apply pressure.”
In January, a former Togo striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, tipped Nigeria to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Adebayor stated this on Tuesday morning, during his visit to the Super Eagles team hotel in Abidjan.
The former Arsenal player expressed his support for the three-time African champions ahead of their second group game against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
“I’m rooting for the Super Eagles to win the trophy.
“I’m with Nigeria and hope the players will deliver,” he told Completesports.
In the same month, a former Nigeria midfielder Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha named the teams that could go all the way to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking with SportingLife, Okocha was asked what he thinks of holders Senegal or Morocco, who were semi-finalist at the last World Cup.
The former PSG and Bolton Wanderers star replied: “Without a doubt, we have a lot of teams that we can say have what it takes to win.
‘As you said, Senegal—I was at their game yesterday, they gave a good performance.
“Morocco, of course, we know they were impressive at the World Cup and we expect them to do well.
‘But at the same time, when you look at teams like Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, you can’t neglect them, they showed how difficult the AFCON has become.
“You can no longer consider a team as underdogs. Of course, there is also the organising country, Cote d’Ivoire.”
