‘We want to make the Amapiano guys happy’ — South Africa ready to end Nigeria’s World Cup dreams

South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams admitted that, beyond chasing World Cup qualification, Bafana Bafana are driven by the added motivation of finally toppling their continental rivals when they host Nigeria in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

Ahead of the pivotal fixture tomorrow, Williams placed his cards on the table, expressing their desire to beat Nigeria for the purpose of bragging rights. 

"That's the history that they've got over us,” he said, per SABC Sport’s Velile Mnyandu. “You know, we haven't beaten them in a very long time. And yes, we've had positive results. 

"I mean, going away to Nigeria last year, it's so difficult and to come out there with a positive result and playing the way we played, you know, shows that we are growing as a team.

“And we're getting closer and closer to beating them. We saw it at AFCON. We saw it when we played them away to Nigeria. So hopefully tomorrow, you know, we can go a step further and change the narrative.

“Because if you looked at head-to-head, obviously they've got the bragging rights. But hopefully tomorrow, we can show that there's a new leaf for Bafana Bafana and that our Amapiano guys can be happy.”

Nigeria and South Africa’s rivalry spills beyond the confines of football, with both countries amongst the most economically powerful on the continent. 

Both countries not only compete economically; they also compete in movies, the arts, and music, hence Ronwen’s reference to Amapiano, a South African house music style in direct competition with Nigeria’s Afrobeats. 

With international war a rare occurrence nowadays, not to say they are on the brink, football provides a safe, non-lethal way for both countries to go head to head, and South Africa have not had joy on that front lately, with one win in their last 12 matches against the Super Eagles. 

However, tomorrow provides an opportunity like no other for South Africa, as a victory  will effectively put paid to Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions and move Bafana Bafana closer to booking their ticket to next year's showpiece.