The Super Eagles will hope to get their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign back on track, when they host South Africa’s Bafana Bafana matchday 3 in Group C on Friday, June 7, 2024.
The game is billed for the 30,000-capacity Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
It is the first of two fixtures lined up for the Finidi George-led side, who will also take on Benin Republic on matchday 4 on Monday, 10 June in Abidjan.
The AFCON 2023 finalist will be targeting a first win in the qualifiers after failing to secure three points in their opening two games.
In their first game in Uyo, the Eagles had to come from a goal down to force minnows Lesotho to a 1-1 draw. A few days later, they came from behind again to settle for a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Rwanda.
Now, they have the chance to secure a first win in the qualifiers when they face South Africa who have recorded one win (2-1 against Benin Republic) and a defeat (2-0 away to Rwanda).
It is exactly four months to the day that the Eagles and South Africa squared off in the semi-final of the AFCON 2023 which the former won 4-2 via penalty shootout after 120 minutes ended 1-1.
Heading into Friday’s clash, the Eagles have been the dominant side in their meetings with South Africa, winning eight, drawing five and losing just two of their 15 games.
But the Eagles will have to be wary of the South Africans who they have not beaten here in Nigeria since a 2-0 victory in 2008. In their last two trips, the 1996 AFCON winners have recorded a win and a draw.
Having already sealed qualification to the 2015 AFCON, South Africa was responsible for the Eagles’ failure to also qualify after holding them to a 2-2 draw in Uyo in November 2014.
Under the late Stephen Keshi, the Eagles needed an outright win against South Africa but found themselves 1-0 down after Tokelo Rantie scored in the 42nd minute. Just three minutes into the second half, Rantie doubled South Africa’s lead to make it 2-0.
In the 68th minute, Sone Aluko pulled a goal back for the Eagles and also grabbed the equalizer in the 94th minute which, unfortunately, was too little too late as the Eagles got eliminated as South Africa and Congo Brazzaville secured the tickets to the AFCON 2015.
The Eagles and South Africa were once again grouped in the qualifiers for the AFCON 2019 which was hosted in Egypt.
Their first meeting in the qualifiers was also at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo which saw the Eagles parade the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho and William Troost-Ekong.
But to everyone’s shock, the South Africans won 2-0 thanks to goals in each half from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau.
After a battling 0-0 scoreline in the first half, South Africa took the lead through Rantie before Tau sealed the win with an 81st-minute goal. In the second leg in Johannesburg, the Eagles held South Africa to a 1-1 draw which was enough for both teams to qualify for the 2019 AFCON.
As both teams get set to renew their rivalry, will the Eagles eventually overcome Bafana Bafana for the first time since 2008 or will Hugo Broos’ side extend their unbeaten streak, end of 90 minutes on Friday will decide.
