Bafana Coach Stuart Baxter hired agent X to spy on the experimental Super Eagles squad in France as the sides get set to clash on June 10 in an Afcon qualifier.
Alas, the name of Baxter’s agent is Jim Lawlor; Manchester United’s chief scout.
Lawlor, 54, will provide the Bafana boss with videos of Nigeria’s match against Corsica and Togo.
Born Irish football undercover has been on the books of the English club since the time of Alex Ferguson and has been very active as opposition scout.
The Nigeria vs South Africa match is gathering a storm on account of how lowly the former champions have fallen prior, both missing the last edition of the Afcon and South Africa throwing a spanner in Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2015 tournament.
The scales are always tipped against Bafana when meeting Nigeria‚ who South Africa have never won against in a competitive match and only beaten them once in 12 games overall‚ 2-1 in the friendly Mandela Challenge at Ellis Park in 2004 in Baxter’s previous stint per Marc Strydom [timeslive].
Baxter’s first assignment on his return to the national team is a substantial one against the Super Eagles in Uyo on June 10‚ made more imposing by the Nigerians having assembled most of their squad in France‚ where they play friendlies against Corsica and Togo.
Safa are still scrambling to organise a now unlikely friendly for Bafana. Baxter knows he has his work cut out earning a result in Uyo.
The coach has worked overtime juggling his duties finishing the season at SuperSport with researching Nigeria.
“I’ve had probably three days away from SuperSport where I have put my Bafana hat on and I’ve gained some intelligence on Nigeria‚” the coach said announcing a balanced‚ sensible squad on Thursday.
“I’ve got the Manchester United scout who’s helping us in Paris. Nigeria are playing Corsica at the Ajaccio Stadium in Corsica‚ and against Togo in Paris – and they’re being watched there.
“I’ll get reports on that. I’ve got video footage‚ I’ve got reports‚ I’ve got the coach’s (Gernot Rohr) background. So by the time we come to the event we’ll be quite well prepared.”
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