WeeklySA_AdminFIXTURE: Nigeria poses real threat to Bafana Bafana’s campaign to progress through the group stages…
By Masoja Cele
Bafana Bafana gaffer Hugo Broos should be optimistic going into the team’s 2026 crucial World Cup Qualifier against Nigeria on Tuesday after his charges cruised past Lesotho with 3-0 win today.
Both matches will be played at Toyota Free State Stadium. Bafana Bafana bagged maximum points against Lesotho at Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, and will be gunning for the same outcome against arch-rivals Nigeria at the same venue to cement their place in the group stages.
South Africa can’t afford to lose or draw any match at this stage. They still have a case of fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over the Crocodiles in March. Soccer’s ruling body is FIFA is yet to rule on the matter.
Should the FIFA outcome favour the Mountain Kingdom side then that could derail Hugo Broos’s team depending on the other results. The case stems from South Africa having fielded midfielder Tebogo Mokoena who had already accumulated two yellow cards in qualifier matches against Benin and Zimbabwe.
Currently, South Africa heads their group with thirteen points from six outings. They are followed by Rwanda with eight points from the same number of matches. The Super Eagles have seven points while Lesotho has.
Should Bafana win both encounters against Lesotho and Nigeria then it will be difficult for any team to topple them from the top of standings.
In a corresponding fixture in June 2024 South Africa and Nigeria shared the spoils after playing to a 1 all draw. Only nine group from the African continent winners will proceed to the finals to take place in United States, Cañada and Mexico in 2026. South Africa has been dealt a big blow with the injury to Orlando Pirates in-form player Patrick Maswanganyi and Hannover 96 defender Ime Okon.
Both players were withdrawn from the camp. Maswanganyi’s has been replaced by club teammate Sipho Mbule while Ikon has been replaced by Stellenbosch midfielder Thabo Moloisane. Regulars Percy Fathema Zwane, Thapelo Morena, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Grant Kekana and Elias Mokwana are also not available for selection for various
Notwithstanding, Broos manager has assembled a team comprising experience and youth. Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala has received his first senior international call up since turning professional with the Soweto club. He has represented the under- 17s and -20s previously. If selected to play Shabalala could link up with other young prodigies – Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) and former Bucs star Mohau Nkota who now plays his football at Al Ettifaq.
The trio will be supported by experienced campaigners in the form of Iqraam Rayners, Teboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster (Burnley FC in England) and Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB FC in Romania).
Bafana’s matches against the West African giants always attract huge interest. The rivalry between the two nations is deeply rooted ever since South Africa was admitted back into FIFA fold.
Nigeria plays Rwanda at home on Saturday before their South Africa clash. They will be led by their top marksmen Victor Osimhen ( Napoli in Italy) Alex Iwobi (Fulham in England) and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta).
