Nigeria's performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup has been greeted with general approval by South African fans.
The Super Eagles represented Africa in Brazil at the 'Festival of Champions' and wound up in fifth position after a win over Tahiti was followed by losses to Uruguay and Spain in Group B.
Surprisingly, while their campaign was received in Nigeria with mixed reactions, a section of South Africans who spoke with THISDAY when the Nigerian contingent transited through Johannesburg, during their home-bound journey from Brazil, spoke warmly about the Eagles.
Thandile, who is a shop steward at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, lavished praises on the Eagles for their robust and attractive football at the tournament.
She said the only drawback with the Nigerians was their inability to convert the load of chances they created.
''I am proud of the Eagles who gave a good account of themselves as Africa's flag-bearers at the Confederations Cup and showed that they are worthy champions of Africa. But the coach (Stephen Keshi) must shop for good strikers in future because Nigeria fell shot in the attack,'' she said.
Her view was corroborated by an unnamed immigration officer, who said the Eagles would make a huge impact at the 2014 World Cup if they emerge as one of Africa's five flag bearers.
The immigration officer appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give Keshi free hand as the world will see a different Nigerian team at the World Cup finals next year, if Nigeria makes the cut.
''Nigeria played good football. I think the coach is good and should be supported by the federation. I see the Eagles causing a stir at the World Cup if they bring good strikers and include some of their key players ruled out by injury,” he said.
A flight attendant, Thembise also corroborated others view on Nigeria by observing that the deliberate and sustained focus on the grooming local players was yielding result for Nigeria.
He said that the Eagles will be a force to reckon with if the team is kept together for the next two years.
In contrast while South Africans were heaping praises on Nigeria, they showed scorn for their national team, Bafana Bafana for its downfall slide which saw them fail to advance to the final phase of World Cup qualifier, until a recent CAF lifeline that docked points of Ethiopia for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifier against Botswana saw them back in contention.
''I have stopped watching the Bafana Bafana because they play like school boys and let you down when you least expect. Honestly, the last time I watched South Africa was during the 2010 World Cup and it was out of patriotism as the event was being staged in our country,'' Thandile said.
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