2019 AFCON Qualifiers
South Africa vs Nigeria
Group E
Saturday, November 17
th
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off at 15:00 (3pm) GMT
Old foes South Africa and Nigeria will come to blows in a crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier in a match that could have serious implications on the final group standings with just one game to go following Saturday’s affair.
Bafana Bafana could reclaim top-spot from their west African counterparts with all three points in front of what will be a hugely expectant home crowd at the iconic Soccer City stadium – the site for the 2010 World Cup final and the same grounds where South Africa last tasted success on the continental stage, lifting the African Cup of Nations in 1996.
SA’s qualifying campaign began with a surprise 2-0 away win when the sides met in June last year although any early optimism was quickly quashed following their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as well as disappointing goalless stalemates against Libya and Seychelles recently, both ranked outside the top 100 in the world respectively according to FIFA.
Percy Tau, who was on target in the 2-0 win in Nigeria last June, was again on the scoresheet in the 6-0 drubbing of Seychelles ix expected to help lead the line once more as he attempts to add to his total of six goals in 15 appearances for the national side.
South Africa recent results:
16/10/2018 – Seychelles 0-0 South Africa
13/10/2018 – South Africa 6-0 Seychelles
08/09/2018 – South Africa 0-0 Libya
10/06/2017 – Nigeria 0-2 South Africa
The Super Eagles return to the venue where they lifted Africa’s greatest prize in 2013 for a crunch encounter against one of their oldest rivals. Gernot Rohr’s men currently lead the Group D standings having picked up three victories from their four matches.
Since their bitterly disappointing exit from the FIFA World Cup at the group stage in June Nigeria have returned to continental action in some style, slotting in ten goals in the three subsequent matches while conceding just two to leapfrog unbeaten South Africa into top spot.
Former Watford frontman Odion Ighalo who now plies his trade in the Chinese Super League followed up a hat-trick at home against Libya with a further two goals in the reverse fixture to take his tally to six goals in four qualifying matches.
Nigeria recent results:
16/10/2018 – Libya 2-3 Nigeria
13/10/2018 – Nigeria 4-0 Libya
08/09/2018 – Seychelles 0-3 Nigeria
10/06/2017 – Nigeria 0-2 South Africa
This will be the pairs 14
th ever meeting on the international stage. South Africa’s 2-0 win in June last year brought to an end a seven-match streak without a victory against a superior Nigeria side since their first-ever win, 2-1 in a friendly, back in 2004.
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South Africa vs Nigeria head-to-head:
Played: 13
South Africa Wins: 2
Draws: 4
Nigeria Wins: 7
South Africa Goals: 8
Nigeria Goals: 22
South Africa vs Nigeria recent results: (last seven)
10/06/2017 – Nigeria 0-2 South Africa
29/03/2015 – South Africa 1-1 Nigeria
19/11/2014 – Nigeria 2-2 South Africa
10/09/2014 – South Africa 0-0 Nigeria
19/01/2014 – South Africa 1-3 Nigeria
14/08/2013 – South Africa 0-2 Nigeria
06/09/2008 – South Africa 0-1 Nigeria
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