Bafana Bafana captain, Thulani Hlatshwayo, says the team will be prepared for their top-of-the-table clash against the Super Eagles next month in a matchday-five fixture of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
The South African side were held to a goalless draw by Seychelles in Victoria last Tuesday, three days after they trounced the same team 6-0 in Johannesburg.
The result in Victoria has put Bafana in a dicey position in their quest to qualify for the AFCON finals in Cameroon next year with two potentially difficult matches against bitter rivals Nigeria at home and an away game against Libya.
Hlatshwayo, however, says the Bafana will play better against Nigeria who now top the Group E table with nine points. South Africa are second on eight points.
“Things didn’t go our way in Victoria‚ we did not finish the chances that we created, but we have to move on from this,” Hlatshwayo told South African Times.
“The weather was not too hot‚ it was a bit cooler but we were not able to play our free flowing football.
“Defensively, we did well. It is good that we did not concede and we know how the group looks like because Nigeria won on Tuesday.
“They are top of the group and we are playing them in the next match.
“It is going to be a different Nigeria compared to the one that we played away.
“So‚ we are aware of the challenge that is upon us and we have to do it ourselves as a team against them.
“Against Seychelles at FNB Stadium‚ we did well by scoring many goals, but unfortunately, we did not score playing away.
“Nigeria is a different team and we are looking forward to that challenge.”
“We saw how they played in their last match and probably the coach will have a different plan because we used a different plan against Seychelles away from home.”