体坛英语新闻：Bafana to play friendly against Nigeria on August

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A game against Nigeria on August 10 will provide Bafana Bafana with the ideal preparation for their two African Cup of Nations qualifying games against Niger and Sierra Leone at the end the season.

This was the view of South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani while surveying the South African national team's remaining program for the year.

Nematandani said on Monday the basic agreement for the game against the Super Eagles in South Africa had been signed and only terms remained to be settled for a match-up that falls within a FIFA period for international matches and should therefore attract the countries strongest available lineups.

"Playing against Nigeria is always a special occasion for Bafana," added the Safa president. "And with South Africa ranked 38th in the world and fourth in Africa and Nigeriia 39th in the world and fifth in Africa the rivalry will take on an extra intensity."

Nematandani added, "Perhaps even more significantly it will provide ideal preparation for the deciding African Nations Cup qualifying games against Niger and Sierra Leone in September and October."

The Safa president said negotiations to secure a suitable Bafana opponent for the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge game in November were also at an advanced stage, but he did not comment on the candidates with the issue yet to be finalized.

The Safa president said while the proposed match between Spain and a composite African XI to take place in South Africa on June or July as part of the events to celebrate the 2010 World Cup had not materialised because of the world champions' busy program, the idea of such a game being staged in the future had not been abandoned.

Nematandani also confirmed that an invitation for Bafana to play three international fixtures in South America this month was down.

He said financial constraints and problems securing the release of the best players were the reasons for declining the invitation.