Fans look on during one of Bafana's AFCON qualifiers. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix Fans look on during one of Bafana's AFCON qualifiers. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Afcon qualifier
For obvious reasons this makes the list. It was Bafana’s first ever win over the Super Eagles in a qualification match and the fact that it took place in front of 60 000 fans, the majority of which were Nigerians, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, made it all the more sweet for SA.
Afcon qualifier
Under then coach Shakes Mashaba, Bafana proved to be a tough opponent in the final group match of the 2015 tournament to be hosted in Equatorial Guinea. The job had already been done, with SA having secured their place at the Afcon and the Super Eagles, the defending champions, missing out. But Bafana ran their hosts close, with goalkeeping blunders allowing Nigeria back in.
Nigeria 0
Afcon qualifier
A highly tactical encounter at Cape Town Stadium, and it really was a pity it ended goalless. The visitors had their chances and so did Bafana, who were already top of the group having had a 100 percent winning streak in the qualifiers.
Fifa World Cup qualifier
Safa had hired an unknown in Brazilian palooka Joel Natalino Santana to try and coach Bafana at the global soccer showpiece. Thankfully we’d qualified as hosts already and our group matches were just practice games, but Santana was clueless and it’s no surprise he was long gone by the time the World Cup was on African soil for the first time ever.
Nigeria 1
Fifa World Cup qualifier
The Super Eagles returned for a second helping, and following the defeat one respected soccer scribe was so angry he stood up and asked that Santana do the right thing and resign!