As Bafana Bafana prepare to meet old foes Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations, they are in need of new heroes. Whichever team wins on Saturday is likely to qualify from the group, the others will probably be booking early flights home.
South Africa had a similar situation in the 2002 World Cup game against Spain in South Korea. They failed against Spain, there cannot be another failure.
The wounded eagles of Nigeria will try to assert their superiority over Bafana, having never lost to South Africa before. There again, they had not lost to Morocco going into this tournament. Bafana Bafana now have to rise to the occasion and settle the score once and for all.
Their nearly men, Sibusiso Zuma and Delron Buckley, must stand up and deliver. Both have been brilliant performers on the wings and proven goal creators, but it is time they started shouldering some of the responsibility for scoring goals as well.
Zuma, with his 37 caps, has only managed to score three times, while Buckley has netted seven goals in 41 appearances.
Siyabonga Nomvete — Bafana Bafana’s two-goal hero against Benin on Tuesday — cannot be allowed to carry the team alone.
The South African team has the players to take on and beat the ageing Eagles, who rely mainly on Nkwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha. All Styles Phumo’s charges need to do is win the psychological battle before the game.
Bafana Bafana will have to avoid giving set pieces to Nigeria and close down their playmaker, Okocha.
A win for Bafana Bafana will ensure them a place in the quarterfinals, while a defeat or a draw will leave them probably needing to win their last game against Morocco.
Wednesday’s clash with the North Africans — rivals to host the 2010 World Cup as well as on the field of play — will be their biggest test of the first round.
Bafana Bafana have had Morocco’s number in the past — they have never lost to the North Africans — but the Atlas Lions they face on Wednesday will be a different proposition.
Morocco has a young side this year and they are hungry for success. A win for either team would boost their prospects of hosting the World Cup.
If Bafana Bafana advance to the next round they should prepare themselves to meet either Cameroon or Egypt — both of whom are looking for a fifth victory in the Nations Cup.