Coach Stephen Keshi has sent a note of warning to the Bafana Bafana ahead of the all important third Group A game between Home-Based Super Eagles and their South African counterpart at the ongoing 2014 African Nations Championship.

The 2013 African Coach of the Year said his boys are getting stronger as the tournament progresses.

"I prime my work on the mental (aspect), which I do all the time - more tactical, positional play, because they need to understand the system.

"I'm so happy with the players because they are getting it quickly, so I think we will get better and better as the tournament goes on," Keshi said.
The 4-2 victory over Mozambique last Wednesday night has set up a tantalising final Group A match with South Africa on Sunday. Nigeria must win the game to ensure they make the quarterfinals, while a draw would be enough for Bafana Bafana to go through.

Coming into the tournament, Keshi had relatively little time to work with a squad made up of domestic players from the Nigerian league, most of them with very little international experience.

Keshi's biggest challenge has been to awaken his players from what would normally be a mid-season slumber period, the Nigerian Premier League having been in recess for the last few months. But he feels they are ready to fire on all cylinders against Bafana on Sunday.

"When the players come from out of season it's very tough, not playing for three, four months, very difficult. You could see that the potential is there. But you have to go back to the A, B, C of football.

"Sometimes you have to go to the board to explain tactics. I must tell you it's very difficult, but I'm happy with the players.

"We'll see what happens on Sunday. Bafana has a very good team -- Siphiwe Tshabalala, Itumeleng Khune and Bernard Parker -- they are experienced players and they can change the game any time. So it's going to be a very difficult but we will try and do our best.

"I have watched both their games, and they have what it takes. So we must be very, very focused. The concentration level of our team needs to be high to withstand them. And they have a very good coach, that's my problem. The coach has to go home, " he said.