Stephen Keshi insists Nigeria have what it takes to bounce back from their dismal display again Congo at the weekend.
The Super Eagles went from opening scores early into the proceedings in Calabar last Saturday to losing 3-2 to the Congolese.
“I am very disappointed with not just the result but with our display in the first-half,” said Keshi. “It was as if I was a soothsayer but I saw it coming; and I have been talking to the boys that they have to be very forceful.”
They face ‘Bafana Bafana’ in Cape Town on Wednesday evening in a win or bust game, with the hosts already top of the log following their 3-0 win in Sudan last week.
The encounter will be the tenth meeting between both nations. Nigeria maintaining better head-to-head record; seven wins and a draw.
South Africa’s only victory came in 2004, when they pipped Nigeria 2-1 to the Nelson Mandella Challenge Cup on home soil.
A win for Nigeria opens up the group again, with South Africa yet to play Congo home and away and the Eagles yet to visit Brazaville among four more other fixtures after tonight.
“We must put back our qualification on track in Cape Town and I know all hopes are not lost,” added Keshi. “We have lost (against Congo) and it is all part of the game. That will be a good lesson for the players when we go to South Africa.”
