Baxter says Nigeria win can help Bafana in World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter believes the team’s 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win against Nigeria was a “great experience” for his side’s big FIFA World Cup matches against Cape Verde in September.   

South Africa meet Cape Verde Islands in Praia on September 2‚ then face them at home on September 5.

Bafana’s opening Afcon win against Nigeria away in Uyo on Saturday has left them in pole position at the start of the qualifiers for a place at Cameroon 2019.

Their first competitive victory against the Super Eagles not only boosted Bafana’s confidence‚ Baxter said‚ but can be a springboard to two more crucial wins against Cape Verde on the path to World Cup Russia 2018.

“I just think it was great experience. For the World Cup qualifiers it was a great experience‚” Baxter said.

“You can imagine we might have to go to Cape Verde and play a similar sort of game. Where we go there and we ease our way into the game‚ and then we start hitting them as often as possible.”

Bafana are in second place in World Cup qualifying Group D to Burkina Faso on goal difference‚ with both sides on four points.

However SA’s away draw against Burkina Faso and home win against Senegal have left them placed in perhaps their best position to reach a World Cup since their qualifications of 1998 and 2002.

If Bafana can beat Cape Verde – who have lost both matches so far‚ 2-0 away against Senegal and 2-0 at home to Burkina Faso –  then beat Burkina Faso in SA in October 2017‚ they will be strongly-placed ahead of their final match away against Senegal in November 2017.