South Africa Coach Stuart Baxter believes Nigeria were lucky to lose by just a two-goal margin to his side in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
Goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau helped Bafana Bafana secure their first victory in competitive game over the Super Eagles as Gernot Rohr’s side struggled to get past the visitors’ backline.
And a visibly delighted Baxter, who was full of praise for his boys, feels his side could have scored more goals after Themba Zwane struck the woodwork twice on the afternoon.
“We set out to contain the Super Eagles in the first 20 minutes to prevent them from scoring so we played deeper, and after that we tried to open the field the way we wanted to,” the Briton told media after the game.
“As it turned, we could have scored more goals. I don’t want to sound like a bad winner but I think we could have scored more with a little bit of more composure. Beating Nigeria 2-0 on their home soil is massive for my players and the football association of the country. I am very pleased,” he said.
Baxter went a step further, rating the Super Eagles as a great side despite losing their first game under coach Rohr.
“I think Nigeria have a very good team,” he continued. “All we did was stop them from playing and hurt them whenever we have the ball. Nigeria are a very good side, I am just proud of the way my players played in terms of preventing them from scoring and creating chances to score,” concluded Baxter.
With the victory, South Africa are second in Group E with inferior goal difference to leaders, Libya.
They host Libya in their next AFCON qualifying encounter on March 27, 2018.
