Bafana Bafana players and their coach, Stuart Baxter, have urged South Africans to come out in their numbers and rally behind the team on Saturday in a crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Nigeria at the FNB stadium.
Tickets sales for the encounter have been slow with a paltry 7 500 tickets sold by Wednesday morning, just over 72 hours before the clash.
Bafana Bafana are below Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who top of Group E of the qualifiers with nine points, with just a point separating the two teams and two matches remaining.
A win for Bafana could secure qualification for the biennial tournament while a draw would be enough to seal Nigeria’s place at next year’s tournament.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, has pleaded with South Africans to come out in their numbers so they can have the advantage that teams like Nigeria have when they are away to them.
Intensifying training programme; @BafanaBafana getting down to business at Steyn City School on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/lZsQyqfwHx
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 14, 2018
With South Africa being home to many Nigerians, it’s feared that they might outnumber South Africans in the stands. While South Africans’ patriotism has been questioned, some commentators believe fans staying away from Bafana matches is justified given their disappointing results in the past.
Goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune has also urged fans to come in numbers and vowed to do well against the Super Eagles.
“Please come show your love as we take on Nigeria on the 17th of November 2018. Re Bafana kao fela (We are all part of Bafana).”
