BAFANA Bafana's resurgence under coach Shakes Mashaba has made their African rivals sit up and take notice.

Bafana are no longer the laughing stock on the continent and their next opponents in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Nigeria, will have a tough task in trying to overcome a determined group of players who are currently on a high after booking a spot at next year's showpiece in Equatorial Guinea.

Niheria, the defending African champions, are yet to lose a competitive match against South Africa but are, for the first time, wary of the South Africans.

Nigeria, who are on seven points in Group A along with Congo, have to win at all costs at Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo (5pm SA time) tomorrow to have a shot at defending their title.

"We must remember that South Africans have something to fight for because they have not beaten Nigeria in a competitive match," former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu told Nigeria's Daily Sun newspaper.

Former Super Eagles forward Clement Temile told the News Agency of Nigeria that the Nigerian players need to stay focused: "There is much to be done in the Eagles' attacking tactics."

Quite a few of the locals are nervous ahead of the game, as they see Bafana as a genuine threat. But there are those, to no surprise, who have ruled out a Bafana victory.

Bafana, who are guaranteed top spot in the group, were due to arrive in Uyo last night on a charter flight and would have their first training session today.