Legendary South African Goalkeeper Names Super Eagles, Pharaohs As Bafana’s Toughest Opponents

The Super Eagles have been crowned African champions three times while the Pharaohs have four more titles, and that's earned the respect of their Bafana Bafana brothers

Former South African goalkeeper Brian Baloyi says Nigeria and Egypt are his country's most challenging opponents on the continent.

Baloyi was in the posts for the Bafana Bafana at the 1998 African Cup of Nations tournament, where the then-defending champions lost in the finals to the North African side.

Asked by Carol Tshabalala on La Liga Inside Show which country he feels was Bafana Bafana's toughest foes, Baloyi said:

“It would have to be Egypt more, especially in my first Afcon, we lost to them in a final. I think we know in South Africa, Egypt has always been a tough opponent for us.”

Nigeria was suspended from the 1998 AFCON, denying Baloyi the chance to face the 1994 winners.

But the West African giants have always had the measure of the Bafana Bafana, winning seven, drawing five and losing just two encounters (including friendlies) between the two.

At Egypt 2019, goals from Samuel Chukwueze and William Troost-Ekong handed the Gernot Rohr-tutored side a 2-1 victory over South Africa in the quarter-finals of the championship.

It's therefore little surprise that the former Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper picked the Super Eagles of Nigeria as Bafana's next most formidable foe after Egypt.

“Our next toughest opponent, it would have to be Nigeria. So, those two countries have always been our toughest opponents [as South Africa],” added Baloyi.