Former South African winger, Junior Khanye, has cast doubt on Bafana Bafana’s chances against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the upcoming semifinal clash of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations. Khanye’s declaration, made during an analysis, suggests that Nigeria may already have the upper hand even before the match begins.
In his assessment, Khanye stated, “It’s over for us,” expressing skepticism about South Africa’s prospects.
Despite South Africa’s recent quarterfinal victory against Cape Verde, Khanye emphasised that Nigeria is likely to emerge victorious and deliver a harsh reality check to his compatriots.
Khanye lauded goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams for his standout performance in the penalty shootout against Cape Verde but criticized South Africa’s defensive approach, attributing their victory to luck. He urged his fellow South Africans to prepare for a tough challenge against Nigeria and acknowledged the importance of their defensive efforts despite Cape Verde’s opportunities.
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“It’s over for us,” Khanye said. “We are lucky to be where we are at the moment. Nigeria is going to beat us, and that is when we will get a wake-up call. I’m not saying this because I’m being negative, but it’s just me stating facts.
“I love Bafana Bafana, and I want to see them doing well. But, this is our last game, those guys (Nigeria) are going to punish us,” said Khanye as cited by The Citizen.
Khanye’s analysis highlights concerns about South Africa’s ability to compete effectively against Nigeria and underscores the daunting task ahead for Bafana Bafana in securing a spot in the AFCON final.
“We could have lost that game. But luckily, we were very lucky. And listen, I’m saying we were very lucky, but we also need to give Ronwen Williams (some credits). He was the star of the show and saved those penalties very well, we must give credit to him for that.
“But, when it comes to playing, we were terrible. We were defending too much. I think our game against Cape Verde was our worst at the tournament when I looked at the other matches.”
