They won’t conquer us – Gould rallies Bafana ahead of Super Eagles clash

Bafana Bafana will lock horns with Nigeria on Tuesday in a crunch World Cup qualifier, months after their heartbreak at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Hugo Broos’ charges, top of their qualifying group, are still riding high after a commanding win over Lesotho on Saturday reaffirmed their command of group C. Back in January, South Africa’s dream run at AFCON ended at the semi-final stage when the Super Eagles prevailed on penalties after a tense draw. 

For many, that result reinforced the painful history of Bafana’s struggles against Nigeria, who have often held the upper hand in this rivalry. But former Bafana defender Morgan Gould insists that the gap has closed — and that the current squad no longer approaches Nigeria with fear.

“Look I don’t think we need to look at what they have because these types of games bring out a different kind feeling in players,” said Gould.

While history shows that South Africa have not beaten the Super Eagles in eight years, Gould believes that the psychological hold once enjoyed by Nigeria has loosened.

He argues that Bafana are now a side that demands respect, and no longer walk into this fixture as underdogs waiting to be brushed aside.

“Just on the streak on its own, the banter, the Nigerian folk are very arrogant and forceful, they play mind games a lot before the game. They give themselves the best possibility by intimidating you,” Gould explained.

Those tactics, he says, are part of Nigeria’s armoury — but they will not work as easily against this Bafana team.

“It’s a no-brainer that we go in there understanding our own problems but also being mindful of what we have in strength, I know for a fact they won’t conquer us.”

Gould believes that AFCON was a turning point. Far from being humbled, Bafana showed resilience, pushing Nigeria all the way to penalties. 

That performance, combined with their strong start in the World Cup qualifiers, has sent a message across the continent.

“Gone are the days where they would overlook us, they now see us in a different light, knowing that we’re capable of a lot.”

Indeed, Broos’ squad has gained recognition for its balance of youth and experience. 

The likes of Oswin Appollis and Mohau Nkota have brought dynamism, while the defence has shown grit despite injuries and suspensions. For Gould, several individuals stand out as torchbearers of this new generation.

Bathusi Aubaas and Luke le Roux may also be in contention, giving Broos further flexibility in midfield. But Gould singles out Lyle Forster’s ruthlessness, Mbokazi’s calmness, Sipho Mbule’s creativity and Relebohile Mofokeng’s fearlessness as reasons for optimism.

“The players we have now, the Forster’s, Mbokazi, Mbule, Rele etc we need to give them the honour and gratitude they deserve, they now carry the torch and we should place our faith in them.”

With group leadership at stake, Tuesday’s clash is about more than three points. 

It is another chance for Bafana to prove that their AFCON run was no fluke — and that Nigeria no longer holds the psychological edge.