South Africa coach, Stuart Baxter, has reacted to the $25,000 per goal promise made to the Super Eagles by the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa ahead of his side’s 2019 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying clash with Nigeria on Saturday afternoon at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
On Wednesday, Governor Okowa promised to give the Super Eagles $25, 000 for every goal scored against South Africa.
Baxter, however, said money was not an issue to his team, adding that his players are eager to beat the three-times Africa champions at home.
Bafana Bafana head to the game after playing a 1-1 draw with Seychelles at home in their last game, while Gernot Rohr’s side defeated Libya 7-2 on aggregate in a scintillating double headed fixture.
”I think the whole of South Africa is going through tough times – there are big companies cutting back and we also need to cut back,” Baxter said at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
”We can’t pay our players that sort of money (as promised the Super Eagles players).
”But I don’t think that’s a bad thing; I think that is us reflecting on what’s happening in South Africa – buckle your belt, put your flak jacket on and go to war, that’s it.
”I don’t think we’ll be better warriors if we get paid an extra 25 grand. Maybe Nigeria are – I don’t know, but I can only speak for the South Africans. Money is not an issue with us, we want these points.”
