Ighalo upbeat about tonight's game pointing out that South Africa are not as strong as Cameroon

SUPER Eagles targetman Odion Ighalo has said he relishes today's quarter final clash against South Africa but is not afraid because Bafana Bafana is not as strong a team as Cameroon's Indomitable Lions who Nigeria beat in the last round.

This evening, the Eagles take on Bafana Bafana who have provided the shock of the tournament by beating hosts and favourites Egypt. With the Eagles haven beaten defending champions Cameroon 3-2 in their own round if 16 clash, today's match at the Cairo International Stadium is anticipated to be the match of the tournament.

Nigeria's leading marksman, Ighalo, who is currently the joint top scorer in the tournament with three goals alongside Sadio Mane of Senegal, Adam Ounas of Algeria, Cedric Bakambu of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon's Stephane Bahoken, is hoping to increase his tally tonight. He admitted that the Eagles are in for a torrid time but reckons the Bafana Bafana are not as strong as Cameroon.

Ighalo said: “It’s going to be a tough game between two good teams but we are ready for the game. Everyone is in good spirit and can’t wait for the game to start. Our target is to win the competition, to do that, we must beat the South Africans and move to the next round.

“We know the South Africans have been saying a lot of things on the internet but we have told ourselves that we must not lose to them. They are not that strong compared to the Cameroonians but they are good on the ball and have pace too.

“We have to keep fighting and against South Africa, we have to adapt to their pace. The loss to them in the qualifiers was tough but this is a tournament quarter-final match and it will be a different matter.”