Bafana Bafana travel to Uyo this week looking to maintain their unbeaten run in Group A, where they are already guaranteed top spot as they sit four points clear of the Super Eagles.
However, Mashaba is all too aware of how one bad decision by the referee can make all the difference on the day, and the tactician is hopeful the only talking points after the game will be centered around the football itself.
"The only thing with these games is to hope that we get the best match officials, that is all. If we get the best then we are confident of results coming our way," Mashaba told The Sowetan.
"Nigeria are in trouble and they need this [win]. The game is also about more than just the three points because of the history between the two rival countries. Nigerians never want to lose to South Africans and that alone will make this a humdinger of a match.
"We also have an assignment to break this hoodoo that we are going to lose when we play Nigeria. People always ask us if we are going to win against Nigeria, but we want to have a positive approach."