Bafana limp to Nigeria

Newly appointed Bafana coach faces a tough baptism when he officially steps into the unpredictable cauldron that is Nigeria on Saturday.

Baxter was appointed last month and the showdown against the Nigerians will be the Briton's first match in the Bafana dugout

The national team mentor could not have asked for a more challenging first assignment, because Bafana have never beaten their old foes in an official match.

Besides attempting to mastermind a maiden victory, Baxter is also facing an injury headache that could force him to alter his plans.

Team doctor Thulani Ngwenya announced yesterday that seven players arrived at training on Sunday carrying injuries.

Ngwenya confirmed that Lebogang Manyama (right knee), Andile Jali (right groin), Tokelo Rantie (right toe bone contusion and right knee), Tiyani Mabunda (ankle sprain), Aubrey Ngoma (groin), Rivaldo Coetzee (hamstring) and Eric Mathoho (concussion) are all in the sick bay.

''For me, we will do our level best in terms of treating all of them and we will make the final call after the scans," Ngwenya said.

''The two players that need to go for scans are Rivaldo and Rantie."

Baxter admitted that it would be disastrous if some of the players ended up going to hospital.

''We are hoping that they are all fit because they have just arrived in camp. It would be a minor disaster if people come to camp and then go straight to hospital.

''I don't think that is the idea of a call-up," the coach said.

Nigeria have been in camp since last month and Baxter is aware that Bafana have got out of the starting blocks a lot later than their rivals.

''We have got very little time [to prepare] in comparison to Nigeria's three weeks in France. We have very little time.

''The report I got from Nigeria is that offensively they are very strong, defensively they all work very hard. They are on a good run of results, so they look confident.

"So, the way we are going to play is to try to be the biggest problem we can be, to be the nightmare that they do not want.

"The meeting we had [with the players] showed that we do not feel that we are just going there to make up the numbers. Far from it."

Baxter acknowledged that his preparations had not gone the way he would have wanted.

''What we have got is not 100% perfect. None of that is meant as an excuse, that is just information we have got for you guys."

The Bafana coach announced that Wits defender Thulani Hlatshwayo would captain the side.

Baxter will be assisted by national Under-20 coach Thabo Senong, under-17 mentor Molefi Ntseki and the goalkeeper coach will be Alex Heredia.