South Africa need a victory by two clear goals to secure their passage into the quarter-finals of the tournament, following their goalless draw in their opener against Brazil and their 1-0 loss to group opponents Denmark last time out.
The side has yet to score in the competition, a statistic Da Gama knows needs to be rectified in their final group stage game.
"We need to attack and score goals against Iraq that is the only way we can qualify,” Da Gama said. “We have created many chances in the two matches we have played but still have not put the ball into the back of the net.”
Da Gama insists his side are not focused on their opposition, but rather on their own mission in Brazil.
“We are not going to focus on Iraq on what they can and cannot do; we are going to play to our strengths,” he said. “This is our chance to write our names in history and at this stage it is up to the players to rise up to the occasion.”
Kick-off at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo is set for 3am South African time.