Nigeria and South Africa are important nations within the African continent.Nigeria is described as the "giant of Africa"in apparent reference to her power potentials and comparative advantage. This study considers Nigeria's power potentials and her inclination to leadership in African affairs sacrificing some benefits derived from natural endowments. This is hardly appreciated. South Africa emerged from the clutches of apartheid, the struggle against which Nigeria's African activism had been most pronounced.The new South Africa is equally endowed with power potentials and may be willing to play leadership roles in Africa as well.Thus, there is the quest for political leadership set for the two nations.