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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is bracing for a high-stakes clash against Nigeria on Tuesday, describing it as a tricky and emotionally charged encounter.
South Africa go into the FIFA World Cup qualifier confident after sweeping aside Lesotho 3-0 at the Free State Stadium to tighten their grip at the top of Group C.
But the Super Eagles remain firmly in the race, having edged Rwanda 1-0 in Uyo a day later on Saturday night.
The result sets up a decisive showdown between two of Africa’s heavyweights, with both sides aware of the implications for their World Cup qualification hopes.
Nigeria will expect a tougher challenge against Broos’ in-form Bafana, while the Belgian tactician has kept his plans close to his chest as he plots another statement performance.
"You know that Nigeria is a very good team and a much better team than the team of Lesotho. So, we will have to take other majors and other tactical things than we did in the game of today [Friday]. We will see the next days and we will try to find the right team to beat Nigeria Tuesday," Broos said.
The Bafana coach knows exactly where to improve against the Super Eagles, albeit they will also present a different approach to Likuena.
"About Nigeria I will not talk today, this is something that we'll see with the technical staff which team we will select for Tuesday. On the other side, we didn't do so well in the first half we used the space behind the defence of Lesotho and that we did much better,” he added.
“In the second half we came too much to the ball and that was what Lesotho wanted because every time they were very close, they were very aggressive. We couldn't find easily the spaces but the second half was much much better.
“Once it was 3-0 we just kept the ball in the team and that was what I asked from the bench, don't go for the fourth or the fifth, why? We just have to control the game and we did very well except the few moments that we didn't but the second half was much better and we were more dangerous also."
