Bafana Bafana's Nigerian hoodoo struck for a sixth time when Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 in a tense, hard fought 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier played at the ERPU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Bafana have never beaten the Super Eagles in six competitive matches

in which they have also failed to score against the Nigerians. The

result ends Bafana's slender hopes of reaching the next phase of

qualifying for the 2010 continental showpiece in Angola.

Bafana's last Group Four match away to Equatorial Guinea is

academic. The win confirms the Super Eagles as Group Four winners and a

place in the next qualifying round for 2010.

But Bafana put up a brave fight and deserved better. They certainly

did not deserve to lose. Nigeria were in a fight and know that they

should have come off second best. But Bafana learnt for the umpteenth

time that no matter how well they play, it is goals that win matches.

To be fair this was Bafana's best performance in Group Four.

But if ever there was glory or honour in defeat it was here at the

ERPU pitch.

The atmosphere was electric. The Port Elizabeth fans were

magnificent. They cheered their heroes every time they had the ball.

But Nigeria defended brilliantly and never cracked under pressure

and showed what a class side they are.

Bafana played Nigeria off the park in the one-sided first half. This

despite Bafana head coach Joel Santana's negative starting line up

where he opted for two defensive midfielders in Macbeth Sibaya and

Kagisho Dikgacoi and captain Benni McCarthy as the lone striker.

But it was obvious that the Super Eagles, who had already won the

group, were content to go through the motions.

Bafana roared on the near capacity 20 000 plus crowd did what was

expected of them by taking the initiative and the game to the more

fancied Nigerians

In fact, so in control were the home side in the opening first half

that goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune had only one save - that from a free

kick from Taye Taiwo in the 43rd minute to make.

For the remainder of the game, it was Bafana in command. Siyabonga

Nkosi gave Bafana fans early hope with a shot that flew past the post

after six minutes. The home side piled on the pressure. Teko Modise hit

wide in the ninth and 21st minutes and in between Dikgacoi missed the

target.

But it was Nigeria who missed the best chance of the first 45

minutes when Ike Uche, with only Itumeleng to beat after he'd earlier

ballooned his 25th minute shot well over the Bafana crossbar. A minute

later, Itumeleng easily dealt with a shot form the same Super Eagles

midfielder.

Nigerian keeper Dele Aiyenugba made a couple of good saves in the

29th and 35th minutes from Dikgacoi and McCarthy respectively.

Nkosi, who was a livewire playing behind McCarthy, was unlucky when

his shot four minutes from halftime from a Bradley Carnell free kick

went wide.

Bafana left wing Siphiwe Tshabalala failed to connect a superb cross

from Nkosi eight minutes after the restart.

Then it was heart break time for Nkosi when his volley from

Tshabalala's pin point cross shaved the paint off the woodwork of the

upright in the 57th minute as Bafana went for the jugular.

Then Dikgacoi's rocket was deflected for a corner in the 63rd

minute. Modise's cross-cum-shot in the 68th minute had Aiyenugba well

beaten but it was another chance that went begging.

Bafana paid the penalty a minute later when Uche silenced the home

crowd with a well taken goal in the 69th minute, completely against the

ruin of play.

Nigeria's Israel-based keeper Aiyenungba was in the thick of the

second half action and again came to the rescue with a top class save

from Nkosi in the 75th minute.

To their credit Bafana never gave up and fought a losing cause right

to the final whistle and have given the country hope that Bafana form

will keep improving leading up to next June's Confederation Cup which

is the dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup finals.