Bafana Bafana will come to the party in Cairo fully smoking against the Super Eagles tomorrow IKENWA NNABUOGOR warns…
Destiny throws up another summer clash as Super Eagles square up bitter rivals, South Africa in the AFCON 2019 quarter-final cracker on Wednesday in Cairo.
It was on June 10 that the Rainbow Nation made sure Eagles did not open their 2019 AFCON qualifiers on a good note, upsetting their hosts 2-0 before their home fans in Uyo in 2017.
Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau silenced the bewildered Uyo crowd with two well-taken goals to hand the South Africans their second ever victory over their more illustrious adversaries who have had superior results on the head-to-head match ups.
The Eagles would later battle their way to Egypt despite this early setback handed them by Bafana Bafana.
Bafana Bafana struggled early on in this final tournament, but became a totally different team in the historical second round game against hosts Egypt, deservedly beating the Pharaohs by an odd goal to set up yet another date with Eagles.
June 10, 2017 was a rude shock, date which Eagles will not forget in a hurry but July 10, 2019 will be tougher and will surely be a ruder shock should they falter and Eagles must be ready for the determined Stuart Baxter-led side.
Tau, who finished off a sweet move, rounding Daniel Akpeyi in goal for the Bafana Bafana’s second goal, is still very much around, better, more daring, fitter and dangerously looking forward to punishing Akpeyi and the Eagles again.
It was the tricky Tau who constantly put the Egypt defence busy until they capitulated five minutes left on the clock for the landmark win, and he will still be at his best again against Kenneth Omeruo-led Eagles’ defence.
Omeruo and company must be at their best to stop Tau and his men.
The Ides of the summer could come back hurting Eagles should they falter against this vastly improved Bafana Bafana.
It appears that Eagles could be on serious course to landing a fourth AFCON title should they beat South Africa tomorrow night in Cairo.
But it won’t come easy, Eagles must step up to the occasion.
