Bafana Bafana will travel to Nigeria in honour of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup tie in June and Sport Plus looks at the previous four results. The two nations enjoy a special rivalry and this upcoming encounter is no different considering its stature and importance.
Bafana defied the odds in the recent AFCON tournament as they succumbed in a drama-filled semi-final encounter with Nigeria in Ivory Coast on penalties. While the Southern Africans headed to the encounter as underdogs, they defied the odds and held their class against the West Africans.
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The third World Cup qualifier for Bafana comes on the back of a win over Benin and a defeat to Rwanda in their opening matches late last year. Meanwhile, the Nigerians were held by Southern African nations, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, the results might give Bafana a glimmer of hope.
Bafana vs Nigeria: A Look at the Past Four Clashes
At the recent AFCON showpiece, Bafana was drawn against the Nigerians in a semi-final encounter in Bouake as it marked the fourth time that the two continental superpowers came up against each other in a competitive match.
This was the first time the two African giants crossed swords since they last met at AFCON back in 2019 when Egypt hosted the showpiece.
Bafana vs Nigeria 2000:
Bafana has experienced a roller coaster ride when it comes to continental football in the recent past. Their last appearance in an AFCON semi-final came in Lagos where they were swiftly dealt with by the Super Eagles. Nigeria, as co-hosts with Ghana, netted in the first minute through Tijani Babangida.
Boasting two seasoned campaigners in Mark Fish and the late John Moshoeu, it was a nightmare game for many players in the side. Nigeria ran riot when Babangida added a second just past the half-hour mark, curling the ball into the right side of the goal as he sprinted down the left as they won 2-0.
Bafana vs Nigeria 2004:
In another big clash between the two outfits, Bafana had hoped to emerge as victors but they were thumped 4-0. The two sides were pitted against each other in the AFCON group stages in Tunisia. Nigeria was a whole different proposition and South Africa was quickly in trouble as Joseph Yobo scored in the fourth minute. Bafana was still in the contest before ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha doubled the score with a 64th-minute penalty and substitute Peter Odemwingie rubbed salt into Bafana’s wounds with two goals in two minutes in the dying minutes.
Under the guidance of the late Styles Phumo, the 1996 African champions were outplayed as they could not progress past the group stages.
Bafana vs Nigeria 2019:
Coached by Stuart Baxter, Bafana was in high spirits after causing an upset against hosts Egypt in the Last-16 of the AFCON showpiece. Bafana clashed against Nigeria in Cairo but conceded through Samuel Chukwueze after he was teed up by Alex Iwob. His initial effort was blocked by Thulani Hlatshwayo but fell back for him to finish on the run. While Mamelodi Sundowns star Bongani Zungu equalised, his effort was ruled offside.
It took a VAR check to show that Odion Ighalo had touched the ball on the way through, putting Zungu onside. However, a horror Ronwen Williams’ mistake at a corner allowed William Troost-Ekong to secure Nigeria a semi-final place as he netted a last-minute winner.
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Bafana vs Super Eagles 2024:
At this year’s biennial showpiece, Bafana was carried by skipper Williams heading to the Last Four. The Sundowns keeper and Bafana’s penalty hero was hopeful of a win but it wasn’t meant to be despite their gallant fight.
The clash at Stade Bouake ended in a 1-all draw when defender Grant Kekana was red-carded last minutes of the contest. The West Africans scored through Troost-Ekong who opened from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute after Victor Osimhen was judged to have been brought down inside the area.
Bafana fought back in the 90th minute through Teboho Mokoena, who also beat Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from the penalty spot to make it 1-1. The clash had to be decided via penalties after extra time and Broos’ troops lost 4-2.
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