• Rayners scored 15 goals in 28 matches for Stellenbosch last season

• Both South Africa and Nigeria have scored two goals each in the qualifiers

• Hugo Broos is facing an injury crisis ahead of Friday’s game

South African Forward Iqraam Rayners has stressed the importance of avoiding defeat against Nigeria in their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers fixture.

With both teams having dropped points in previous matches, Nigeria currently sits third in the standings with just two points, trailing South Africa by a single point, and Rwanda leads the group with four points.

Reflecting on their previous performance, Rayners stressed the significance of securing points in the upcoming match, highlighting the team’s determination to avoid further setbacks.

“If we can’t win, we must at least get a point in Nigeria,” the forward told Sowetan Live. “Like the coach said, he wants four points from these two games but we will try to get six points.”

“This is football and anything can happen, we might steal the game in the last minutes in Nigeria.”

The clash between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana is set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

After the game, South Africa will host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium four days.