IF Shakes Mashaba wants to make a big statement about the new dawn of Bafana Bafana, tonight would be the ideal opportunity to accomplish something many of his predecessors failed to achieve.
They meet Nigeria in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cape Town (8.15pm kickoff).
No African nation has had more of a stranglehold over South Africa in the past 22 years than the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The countries have met on nine occasions. Nigeria have seven victories, against one draw and a loss in that time, during which Bafana have only managed to score three goals.
Nigeria have found the back of the net 19 times.
The teams have also met twice in the past year and on both occasions Nigeria brushed South Africa aside with embarrassing ease.
The first was when they beat Bafana 2-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in August last year.
They met again in the 2014 African Nations Championship in Cape Town and again Bafana were overwhelmed 3-1.
South Africa were handed a football lesson in their first meeting with Nigeria, which came just months after readmission into international football in 1992.
The Super Eagles won 4-0 and current Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was a stalwart of that side.
South Africa then escaped with a 0-0 draw in the return match in Johannesburg in January 1993.
It was not until the 2000 Afcon semifinals that the teams would meet again and Nigeria had the upper hand once more on home soil in Lagos, winning 2-0.
Four years later and there was another match-up in the 2004 Afcon pool stages, Nigeria romping to a 4-0 success in Tunisia.
Later that year there was joy at last for Bafana fans as they beat a depleted Nigeria 2-1 in the 2004 Nelson Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park.
Unfortunately, normal service resumed after that when the teams met in the qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria won the first leg 2-0 in Lagos and the return match 1-0 in Port Elizabeth.
Shakes can make his mark early
IF Shakes Mashaba wants to make a big statement about the new dawn of Bafana Bafana, tonight would be the ideal opportunity to accomplish something many of his predecessors failed to achieve.
They meet Nigeria in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cape Town (8.15pm kickoff).
No African nation has had more of a stranglehold over South Africa in the past 22 years than the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The countries have met on nine occasions. Nigeria have seven victories, against one draw and a loss in that time, during which Bafana have only managed to score three goals.
Nigeria have found the back of the net 19 times.
The teams have also met twice in the past year and on both occasions Nigeria brushed South Africa aside with embarrassing ease.
The first was when they beat Bafana 2-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in August last year.
They met again in the 2014 African Nations Championship in Cape Town and again Bafana were overwhelmed 3-1.
South Africa were handed a football lesson in their first meeting with Nigeria, which came just months after readmission into international football in 1992.
The Super Eagles won 4-0 and current Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was a stalwart of that side.
South Africa then escaped with a 0-0 draw in the return match in Johannesburg in January 1993.
It was not until the 2000 Afcon semifinals that the teams would meet again and Nigeria had the upper hand once more on home soil in Lagos, winning 2-0.
Four years later and there was another match-up in the 2004 Afcon pool stages, Nigeria romping to a 4-0 success in Tunisia.
Later that year there was joy at last for Bafana fans as they beat a depleted Nigeria 2-1 in the 2004 Nelson Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park.
Unfortunately, normal service resumed after that when the teams met in the qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria won the first leg 2-0 in Lagos and the return match 1-0 in Port Elizabeth.
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