Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter believes his side are ready to face Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on Saturday.

The South African National Team’s clash against the Super Eagles is set to kick off at 18:00 in Uyo, Nigeria.

Baxter insists that his side are ready for their clash against the Super Eagles, but he admits that he is a bit nervous heading into the qualifier.

“The preparations have gone according to expectations. While I could have done with more time, I believe the hours we have put in this past week should suffice,” Baxter told Safa.net.

“I can’t see anything more I could have done with this group with more time that I have not done.

“Could I have done more than we did already? I don’t think so. You also don’t want to disturb your players with lots of details which might be counter-productive. In short I can say, I am excited, ready and of course a bit nervous.”

The Bafana Bafana coach says he is aware of the magnitude of Saturday’s game in which both sides need a good result to kick-start their 2019 Afcon campaign.

“I was watching a few of their players on television on Thursday night. They sounded bullish, but at the same time are very uncomfortable,” he added.

“I think we have done a good job, I am excited, but of course we get nervous here and there; it’s part of the game.”

The former SuperSport United mentor says he is hoping for a positive reaction, following the team’s final training session on Friday.

“How do you react when things don’t go your way or as planned? Must we panic or react? If we react positively to any situation, we have a good chance of coming out with a solid result.”

“We need to be brave and adapt but never feel inferior.

“Nigeria need to win this one and they would go at us, but this is where we need to be smart. If they all pour forward, throw caution to the wind, we need to defend well and then exploit gaps at the back. This is when we need to react smart,” Baxter concluded.

Bafana Bafana against Nigeria kicks off at 18:00.

– This story originally appeared on SportsClub.co.za