AFCON: South Africa is not a pushover- Ex-international cautions Super Eagles

A former Super Eagles player, Garba Lawal has said the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final match between Super Eagles and South Africa will be tough.

Lawal who was part of the squad that won the 1996 Olympic gold medal and the 2000 African Cup of Nations stated this over the weekend in a Solacebase TV sports program, ”Sharhin Wasanni”.

He said that Super Eagles players should not take the match lightly because Nigerians are expecting a lot from them.

Read Also: Corporal Punishment: Kano varsity suspends lecturer

“South Africa is a strong opponent, but we have faced them before and we know their weaknesses. We have to play with confidence, discipline, and passion. We have to support our players and coach with positive energy and prayers. We have to show the world that we are a proud nation and a force to reckon with in African football,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to exercise patience over the absence of Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa on the pitch since the beginning of the tournament as the coach knows what he is doing and he will not do anything that will jeopardize the success of the team.

 “Ahmed Musa is still the captain of the team, and he still plays a role in the match. The coach will put Ahmed on the pitch when he finds the right time,” he said.

The ex-international urged Nigerians to forget about the number of goals that the Super Eagles scored, as many fans are worried that the scored goals are too minimal, but according to him, what matters is winning.

 “To me, it doesn’t matter how many goals the Super Eagles scored, what matters is that they won, and I hope they will continue to win,” he said.

Nigeria and South Africa clash is scheduled for 6.00 pm Nigeria time kick-off on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

The match will take place at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.