Newly unveiled South Africa’s Bafana Bafana head coach Staurt Baxter will name his squad to face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in next month’s 2019 AFCON qualifiers on 25th May.
Speaking at his official unveiling on Monday, the Scottish manager expressed hope they will be competitive against the West African powerhouse.
“I hope we will be very competitive with Nigeria. We will give the a game,” the 63-year-old current Supersport United coach said.
“We need to be competitive and players will do it the South African way. The play should reflect the play in the country,” he added.
Baxter, a former midfielder with Melbourne FC and Pretson North in his playing days, offered he would not have taken up the Bafana role if he was not equal to the task.
“I’m really looking forward to this latest challenge. If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have accepted the challenge.
“I believe the nation has enough players to succeed and I believe in my abilities.”
Baxter will be facing a litmus test against a formidable Super Eagles side ,which has enjoyed a meteoric rise under Germann tactician Gernot Rohr.
Since replacing Sunday Oliseh as manager late last year, Rohr, a former Burkina Faso coach, has registered three wins out three in his last competitive matches.
The last two against Zambia and Algeria has set him on course to qualifying the 2013 AFCON winners to the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria hold a superior record against South Africa with seven wins, four draws and a single loss.
