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Pretoria - Ahead of their crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula says he has a burning desire to see Bafana Bafana beat Nigeria.
Bafana will renew their rivalry with the reigning African champions in their second qualifying match at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
Heading into this encounter, Bafana are coming off an impressive 3-0 triumph over Sudan away from home, while the Super Eagles surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to Congo Brazzaville.
South Africa are yet to beat the Super Eagles in a competitive match since their re-admission to international football in 1992 and the Nigerians will be looking to continue their dominance over Bafana.
The former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president hinted that should Bafana claim the maximum points on Wednesday, he will celebrate all night as he is tired of being inferior to the Nigerians.
“It will be a good feeling for me if we beat Nigeria,” said Mbalula.
“It will be good to beat them more than Sudan. To me, if we win against Nigeria I will forget everything and celebrate.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on bra Shakes Mashaba and his team but that’s my wish on top of everything.
“But Shakes Mashaba said it is much better to play outside the country because we give
them (Bafana) a lot of pressure playing at home.
“I can see that our happy days are back but it’s still early days, let’s not get carried away now.
“Eish, these Nigerians have been tormenting us throughout and if we beat them, I am sure all South Africans will celebrate all night and my champagne is ready.
“My message to Shakes is that you can lose against all but please beat Nigeria, I am tired of this people.
“But at the end of the day, Shakes and his boys have my support and as a country we are fully behind them.”
The only time Bafana beat Nigeria was in a friendly match, the Nelson Mandela Challenge, played at Ellis Park in November 2004 under Stuart Baxter’s reign.
Bafana won 2-0 on the night courtesy of Shaun Bartlett and Benedict Vilakazi strikes.
The two sides last met earlier this year at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) group game where Stephen Keshi’s team triumphed 3-1 at Cape Town Stadium.
Mbalula later lashed out at Bafana’s players, calling them unbearable and a useless bunch of losers.
The much anticipated match will kick-off at 20:00.
Bafana will renew their rivalry with the reigning African champions in their second qualifying match at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
Heading into this encounter, Bafana are coming off an impressive 3-0 triumph over Sudan away from home, while the Super Eagles surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to Congo Brazzaville.
South Africa are yet to beat the Super Eagles in a competitive match since their re-admission to international football in 1992 and the Nigerians will be looking to continue their dominance over Bafana.
The former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president hinted that should Bafana claim the maximum points on Wednesday, he will celebrate all night as he is tired of being inferior to the Nigerians.
“It will be a good feeling for me if we beat Nigeria,” said Mbalula.
“It will be good to beat them more than Sudan. To me, if we win against Nigeria I will forget everything and celebrate.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on bra Shakes Mashaba and his team but that’s my wish on top of everything.
“But Shakes Mashaba said it is much better to play outside the country because we give
them (Bafana) a lot of pressure playing at home.
“I can see that our happy days are back but it’s still early days, let’s not get carried away now.
“Eish, these Nigerians have been tormenting us throughout and if we beat them, I am sure all South Africans will celebrate all night and my champagne is ready.
“My message to Shakes is that you can lose against all but please beat Nigeria, I am tired of this people.
“But at the end of the day, Shakes and his boys have my support and as a country we are fully behind them.”
The only time Bafana beat Nigeria was in a friendly match, the Nelson Mandela Challenge, played at Ellis Park in November 2004 under Stuart Baxter’s reign.
Bafana won 2-0 on the night courtesy of Shaun Bartlett and Benedict Vilakazi strikes.
The two sides last met earlier this year at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) group game where Stephen Keshi’s team triumphed 3-1 at Cape Town Stadium.
Mbalula later lashed out at Bafana’s players, calling them unbearable and a useless bunch of losers.
The much anticipated match will kick-off at 20:00.
