As the destiny-shaping World Cup qualifying  encounter of Nigeria and South Africa approaches, the South Africans have discovered a new sensation in their fold who is of Nigerian origin.

Nigerian-born Ime Okon has caught the attention of football followers in South Africa and there is great pressure to draft him into the Bafana Bafana squad before Nigeria calls him up.

Okon, a 20-year is  is one of the breakthrough young stars for SuperSport United this season together with Shandre Campbell, holds dual citizenship because his father is Nigerian and his mother is South African.

He plays for SuperSport United as a central defender. Bafana Bafana legend Andre Arendse has urged South Africa to be decisive and secure the future of highly-promising youngster.

He has been named in provisional squads a few times by Bafana coach Hugo Broos but he is yet to earn a cap, and Arendse is concerned South Africa may lose a “super talent” to rivals Nigeria.

As a sign of his burgeoning career, the tall central defender has made 18 appearances for coach Gavin Hunt in the DStv Premiership and has tasted continental football with six appearances in the Confederation Cup.

“Ime Okon is the next one on the radar [of Ronwen Williams when it comes to development] and I don’t want to hype him up or put him out there and say he is the best because he is only 20,” said Arendse, who is assistant coach to Hunt.

“He is a super talent but I am not intending to put pressure on him though I know he can handle it. He is starting to prove he can handle pressure during games and we need to look after him.

“You spoke about dual citizenship and we better be careful we don’t lose him because he is definitely one for the future. I know what I am talking about because I have had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa.

“I don’t need to mention names, you guys know who I am talking about, but I am telling you in a few year’s time he’s going to be up there.”

Arendse was speaking as United prepared to travel to Richards Bay for their tricky Nedbank Cup last 16 clash.

Okon’s club-mate, Thulani “Tyson” Hlatshwayo has also joined a growing list of personalities urging South Africa to be decisive and secure the future of Okon. 

“To be able to crack the Nigerian national team, he needs to play in Europe — but we need him in Bafana Bafana. When you look at our centre backs, Mothobi Mvala has injuries, there is also Grant Kekana and Siyanda Xulu — and I read Siyabonga Ngezana had an issue with his travel documents, but I don’t know what is happening there. 

“His father is from Nigeria and mother from South Africa. He grew up here, he studied here and coach Gavin Hunt took him from Randburg Football Club. He is South African and he speaks Afrikaans.” 

Hlatshwayo said there is banter among players whenever South Africa plays against Nigeria and he has jokingly threatened not to help him if he supports the Super Eagles against Bafana. 

“Every time there is Afcon, when Nigeria is playing he is with Nigeria and when South Africa is playing against Nigeria we have a lot of banter in the team. I told him I am going to stop helping him if he chose to play for Nigeria because there are things in his game that need to be polished.  

“The more he plays, the more experience he is going to get and he will do well. I don’t know if it has something to do with him being young but he is quick and strong and we complement one another very well.” 

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The new man on the saddle for the Super Eagles has been a coach since 2021 when he took over Enyimba. He is now upgraded as Nigeria’s manager.

Now the naturally cool-headed man now faces a baptism of fire in what will be his first assignment as confirmed Super Eagles’ manager.

In 30 days time, the Super Eagles will face one of their arch-rivals, South Africa in what is a ‘must-win’ match. There is zero margin of error. Even a draw spells doom to not just the team, but the manager whose goal earned Nigeria their first World Cup qualification 31 years ago.

At the moment, going into MatchDay 3, Nigeria surprisingly trail third behind unlikely leaders, Rwanda while South Africa follow.

The Super Eagles will need the maximum points, and possibly with good winning margin, against South Africa to have any realistic chance of heading the Group C when the series come to an end.

A win takes Nigeria to the summit with five points while the Super Eagles will be expecting Benin to win their home match against Rwanda.

In essence, the match with South Africa on June 3 will be the most challenging task that Finidi George will be facing in his close to three years coaching career in Nigeria.

 Will he deliver when he also has additional responsibility of ensuring Enyimba finish at the to of the Nigeria Premier League? He is facing two complex situations at the same time.

The NFF expectedly did not give details of his contract and the relationship Finidi George will be having with his original employers, Enyimba.

The good thing is that having spent 20 months as an assistant to Jose Peseiro, he is expected to be familiar with most of the players expected to be called up for the destiny shaping encounters with South Africa and Benin Republic.

The World Cup that marks 100 years of the competition may be six years away, the jostle for the two key matches – the opening and the final – has turned a two horse race.

In all, there will be 104 matches. Morocco is jostling with Spain to host one of the two key matches.

Portugal is ruled out for either the opening or the final match as it has no stadium with capacity of over 65,000.

The biggest stadium in Portugal is Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Morocco on the other hand is planning on what will be the largest stadium in the world.

The Grand Casablanca Stadium is being designed to hold 115,000 spectators in its bowel.

According to Paris-based publication, Jeune Afrique, Casablanca is favoured to host the opening match.

Other countries besides the hosts are set to hold matches. Three matches will be held in South America – one in Montevideo, in Uruguay, where the first World Cup took place in 1930, one in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and another in Asuncion, Paraguay. The remaining 101 matches have yet to be allocated.

Sources close to the matter suggest that 20 stadiums (11 in Spain, 6 in Morocco, and 3 in Portugal) could host the World Cup matches.

Other countries besides the hosts are set to hold matches. Three matches will be held in South America – one in Montevideo, in Uruguay, where the first World Cup took place in 1930, one in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and another in Asuncion, Paraguay. The remaining 101 matches have yet to be allocated.

Morocco, on the other hand, has chosen six stadiums; Rabat, Fez, Agadir, Marrakech, Tangier, and the Grand Casablanca Stadium in Benslimane.

It is estimated that Morocco will host at least a third of the matches.  we can roughly estimate that Morocco will have around a third of the 101 matches to be allocated, give or take,” a source close to the matter told Jeune Afrique.

A source quoted a Moroccan journalist, Nassim El Kerf as prefering the kingdom to host the opening match as it guarantees the featuring of Morocco instead of the final match in which the host country may not feature.

France are the last hosts to feature in a World Cup final in which they beat Brazil 3-0 in 1998. It is therefore impossible to know ahead of time if a host country will get to the final.