SA coach Mashaba warned players of Ahmed Musa’s threat

The Bafana Bafana coach has spoken highly of the CSKA Moscow forward who captained the Super Eagles and scored their only goal in Sunday’s draw.

South Africa coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba said he warned his side of the danger posed by Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa ahead of Sunday’s friendly match in Nelspruit.

Musa, 22, who captained the Super Eagles in the absence of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana.

The CSKA Moscow striker sent the visitors ahead against the run of play in the second half before Bongani Zungu equalized deep into added time.

Bafana coach Mashaba said he warned his players about the Nigerian forward who ended up punishing them with a superb curling shot outside of the box which left goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune glued to his spot.

“As for their goal, I told my players there is this No. 7 Musa, don’t give him space or a chance to face our goals, or he will punish us,” Mashaba said after the game.

“We dealt with him well in the first half, he was nowhere, and even at the start of the second half.

“He is a very good curler of the ball, and you could see when it left his boot that it was going to give the goalkeeper problems, but all in all we did very well.”

Zungu’s late goal evened the scores and ensured that South Africa continue in search of their first win over Nigeria since 2004.