Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has warned that history will count for little when South Africa take on Nigeria in the semi-final of the AFCON on Wednesday.
South Africa are set for a last four tie with the Super Eagles in what will be a fourth encounter of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Historically, Nigeria have fared much better than South Africa, winning the last three AFCON encounters between the pair. The two sides last met in the semi-final of the continental competition in 2000 where the Super Eagles recorded a 2-0 victory.
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However, Williams believes all these will count for very little when the two nations meet on Wednesday at Peace Stadium of Bouaké.
"Stats don't play the game," Williams said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"You know many statistics that were against us in this tournament and we proved that stats don't play the game.
"So, what has happened in the past, we can't change that, but what we can change is tomorrow's result, tomorrow's performance.
"We don't look at that (history) because that can't change now. We control what we can control and that is tomorrow's performance and tomorrow's result."
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Head coach Hugo Broos also insisted that despite a poor showing from Cape there would be not lack of motivation from his side.
"If you are not motivated for the semi-final of the AFCON, I think then you have to stop playing football. You don't need motivation, you are in the semi-final, you can be in the final. You are playing against a good team. Our motivation is enough for to play a good game and try to win it.
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 19:00. (SA time).
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