Bafana Bafana Coach Confident of Beating Nigeria to World Cup Qualification
South Africa coach Hugo Broos believes his team can finish top of Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, ahead of Nigeria and other rivals.
Bafana Bafana currently have a five-point lead over second-placed Rwanda, while Nigeria sit in fourth place with seven points after six matches.
On Tuesday evening, South Africa secured a 2-0 win over Gernot Rohr’s Benin. Burnley forward Lyle Foster scored in the 53rd minute, and Jayden Adams sealed the victory with a late header.
However, South Africa could lose three points due to an administrative error. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who received two yellow cards earlier in the campaign, should have been suspended for their 2-0 win against Lesotho last Friday but was mistakenly included in the squad.
Despite this setback, Broos has urged his players to stay focused and avoid costly mistakes as they approach the final phase of the qualifiers. He warned that qualification is not yet secured.
Speaking to Sowetan Live, the Belgian coach said:
“We have to be confident and not fear any team we play against. The only thing we can do is continue working hard like we have been doing. We must not think that everything is already done. We are in a good position, but if we avoid silly mistakes, we are very close to qualification.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will aim to close the gap on South Africa when the two teams meet in a crucial match in September 2025.
