Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who plays his club football in South Africa, and who was thrown into the forefront as number one at this competition despite only one previous cap, said he would have a sweet day stopping all efforts by the Bafana Bafana and then seeing them shunted to the third-place match, Nigeriasoccernet.com gathered.
“I know them and they know me. It will be an interesting evening in Bouake," he stated ahead of the highly anticipated clash on Wednesday.
Stanley Nwabali has kept four clean sheets in the competition so far, the most of a goalkeeper as well as South Africa's goalkeeper in Ronwen Williams who is also the captain of the team and a familiar foe to Stanley as they both plie their trade in the South Africa's league.
As far as the Africa Cup of Nations go, Nigeria is aiming for a fourth star on its crest, while the Bafana (Boys) are only aiming for a second triumph, following their win on home soil 28 years ago. Even that win has always been downplayed by Nigerians as it happened in the absence of Cup holders Nigeria, who were stopped from travelling to the Rainbow Nation by military strongman Sani Abacha following a spat with President Nelson Mandela over the execution of environmental rights activist Ken Saro Wiwa and some others in November 1995.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola