Bafana Bafana defender Terrence Mashego says they always believed they could impress at the Africa Cup of Nations and says their success is not about Mamelodi Sundowns or any club.
South Africa has secured a place in the last four after beating Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties with Ronwen Williams saving four in the shoot-out after the match finished 0-0 after extra-time in Yamoussokro.
The Super Eagles, who beat Angola in the quarter-finals now await, while DR Congo and hosts Ivory Coast will do battle for the other spot in the final.
“It’s going to be a difficult game, you know Nigeria has a good squad but also on out outside we have a good squad, so it’s going to be a very good game,” Mashego said.
“We’re [confident] in our defence, we’ve gone for four games without conceding, [like Nigeria] we’re ready for any battle.
“I’d say we don’t want to pressurise ourselves, so we just have to take it one game at a time and we might find ourselves in the final.”
The left-back who was a substitute in extra-time due to the hamstring injury of Thapelo Maseko feels they can achieve anything after reaching this stage and downplayed foreign media questioning about the Masandawana influence in their success.
“I’d say this tournament has been unpredictable, so for us? What was important was to believe, so we really believed we’d go this far, that was the most important part,” he said.
“In the national team it’s different, it’s not about Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs or Pirates, it’s about individuals getting together and being a team – it’s not about Sundowns or any team, it’s about us being together.”