Ordinarily, Daniel Shittu's arrival, yesterday in South Africa, would have been a huge relief to Super Eagles coaches.

But it was a mere confidence booster since the coaches had other options if the new Bolton Wanderers defender had not arrived.

Ola Daniel who plays for Cesena in Italy has been doing well in training and would have, probably, earned a place in the central defence in tomorrow's Nations Cup/World Cup qualifying match against the Bafana Bafana in Port Elizabeth.

And when the Eagles file out for the tie, Shittu, now a strong man in Eagles's defence, will be manning the central defence with Obinna Nwaneri in the absence of Everton's Joseph Yobo.

"We may not be missing anybody," Idah Peterside, spokesman of the Eagles said on phone yesterday from Port Elizabeth.

"The coaches have worked out a good way to play Saturday's game. The South Africans play a fast game, very fast. The coaches know what to do to contain them. I think we have a good team. A solid one for that matter," Peterside said.

The start list may not be different from what the coaches had in the past that won them all the four matches so far.

Dele Aiyenugba may be in goal. Chinedu Odiah right back, Taiye Taiwo left back with Nwaneri and Shittu in the central. In front of them would be Yusuf Ayila, Seyi Olofinjana. There's also Christian Ogbodo. John Utaka may play from the right midfield while Uche Ike and Yakubu Aiyegbeni would play as top strikers.

"Another thing going for us is the bench. We have a good bench," Peterside continued.

"Ola Daniel is a big guy, just like Uche Okechukwu. He is very strong and calm. On the bench too is Joseph Akpala from Club Brugge in Belgium.

The guy is unbelievable. He is good. Very quick and he scores. It is just that he is new and the coaches would like to gradually integrate him and other new ones into the team otherwise it would not be out of place to start him," Peterside said of what he has seen of Akpala in training. South Africa may not qualify for the Angola Nations Cup if they do not win the match.

The whole country, according to Idah, is charged."But we don't care. We are out for victory," he said.