That game seems so distant in memory as the Super Eagles have since bounced back with three consecutive wins to take control of Group E of the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.

A draw will be enough for the ticket to Cameroon 2017 but with the Super Eagles looking for payback for that embarrassing home defeat of last year, a win is desired.

The home defeat to South Africa in 2017 came at a difficult time for the Super Eagles. Gernot Rohr was still experimenting with the team and all the attention were on an upcoming double-header against African champions Cameroon in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

This time, the attention is not divided and while Rohr has lots of players missing, the unswerving focus of the team is expected to be enough for them.

Striker Odion Ighalo- who is the top scorer in AFCON 2019 qualifiers- and first-choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho are missing with injuries, Wilfred Ndidi is suspended while captain Mikel John Obi has continued to opt out of international duties. But Rohr believes his players are experienced enough to cope without their absent teammates.

“Three injured players and one suspended, it's difficult to play without them,” Rohr told journalists in Asaba.

“We are missing our right-back, Shehu, Ndidi is missing through suspension and injuries to our goalkeeper (Uzoho) and our goalscorer (Ighalo).

“So it’s a lot, but we will try to go to South Africa with some new players.

“We lost to South Africa a long time ago – over a year ago, but my young team now have experience of the World Cup and I believe they are able to play a good match even if we are missing four key players especially the goalkeeper and the goalscorer."

Rohr might be upbeat about his sides’ chances against South Africa but he is mobbed with some decision for the game on Saturday.

Who replaces Uzoho in goal, how will he line up in midfield and who spearheads the attack in the absence of the inform but injured Ighalo.

A South Africa win again?

For the Bafana Bafana, a win against the Super Eagles of Nigeria will seal a place for them at AFCON 2019 and having missed the last edition, all eyes will be on the ticket.

Just like his Nigerian counterpart, Bafana Bafana boss Stuart Baxter also has a couple of injuries to cope with including that to Tokelo Rantie who scored in the 2-0 win away in Nigeria.

Baxter knows that the Super Eagles are still wounded from the loss in the first leg. “It has really been a tough task to select the team to face Nigeria without some of our regular players, but we have to soldier on,” he is quoted on the official website of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA)

“I must admit this makes the upcoming clash all the more interesting. Remember we beat them 2-0 in the first leg in their backyard, so they will come here trying to avenge that.”

He still remains confident; “this helps us to ensure that when we qualify for the tournament we have an even bigger pool of players to choose from,” he added.

“I am also confident that the players brought in will do a good job.”

History is however not on their side with South Africa winning just two games out of 14 against Nigeria and managed seven four draws. But they can draw inspiration from that 2-0 victory over Nigeria in Uyo and can whip up another surprise.