The stakes are huge for the two teams as Bafana Bafana go toe-to-toe with Nigeria in their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein (6pm) on Tuesday. Nigeria coach Éric Chelle said they are looking forward to playing against an opponent they have always had respect for. The Super Eagles were unconvincing in a 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo, BEST FREE PORN VIDEOS but new Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score a crucial goal that keeps Éric Chelle's men firmly in the fight. The squad lacks a few familiar names, such as Mamelodi Sundowns’ Themba Zwane and Grant Kekana, who are both injured. In our last World Cup campaign, we won our group convincingly but you had the play-off system and we did not go to Qatar on away goals.
Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup destiny remains in their own hands as they head into the highly anticipated qualifier against Nigeria at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night. Bafana Bafana claimed maximum points against Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Friday, 5 September, delivering a commanding performance from start to finish. Mohau Nkota, Lyle Foster, and Oswin Appollis were on target, with their goals securing a 3-0 victory that reflected South Africa’s dominance throughout the match. Three of the last four matches between South Africa and Nigeria have been level at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. The other - in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals - was decided by an 89th minute winner by William Troost-Ekong to make it 2-1 to the Super Eagles.
The numbers are dominated by Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, with The Buccaneers contributing seven players, while The Brazilians have six. A win would leave South Africa with 19 points from eight matches at the top of Group C and in a commanding position to qualify for the global showpiece to be co-hosted in the US, Mexico and Canada next year. We learnt a hard lesson a few years ago when our destiny was in other team’s hands and obviously things didn’t go our way.
So, we learnt and grew as a team, and now we want to do things our way and get the job done," he said. Captain Ronwen Williams echoed the Bafana Bafana coach and said the task at hand is to continue to remain in the driver’s seat and not rely on the outcome of matches elsewhere. The win took Bafana to 16 points from seven games, allowing Hugo Broos’ side to maintain their grip on the top spot in Group C as they now prepare for their next important showdown against Nigeria on Tuesday, 9 September.

Oswin Appollis was one when Bafana last qualified for a World Cup

Only the top team in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The four best second-placed teams across nine groups in Africa progress to a knockout tournament to determine the sole African representative at the inter-confederation playoffs. South Africa sit atop group C in the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, five points ahead of second-place Rwanda. Benin are tied with Rwanda on eight points while Nigeria are hot on their heels with seven points. "We should treat it like any other game, play like we have been playing and have the same mentality. South Africa captain Ronwen Williams said the focus for last year's Africa Cup of Nations bronze medallists is "on the game and to get the job done because we don’t want favours from anyone".

Hugo Broos has gone 16 matches undefeated from the dugout with Bafana Bafana since the Africa Cup of Nations. This does not count matches which he did not directly oversee, such as the African Nations Championship (CHAN), CHAN qualifiers or the COSAFA Cup. Nigeria are third out of six teams with 10 points, so if they beat Bafana in Bloemfontein, they can move within three of the leaders.

A further three-point deduction for Hugo Broos' men would then leave the two age-old rivals level on points, with Gernot Rohr's Benin also well-placed to benefit. However, Bafana lead the pack in any scenario with 16 points from seven games as it stands - five ahead of second-placed Benin, giving them a margin of error with three games to go for each team in the group. Of the 23 squad members, six ply their trade outside of the country while the remaining 17 feature in the PSL.
"I know something, South Africa are a very good team, and they have got good players. Like I said, we know that this is a very big game and just like my players, we are very happy to be playing this match," he said. As Bafana coach Hugo Broos indicated, if Bafana don’t get maximum points against Nigeria it would not be the end of the world with matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in South Africa next month. A draw would leave South Africa six points clear of the Super Eagles and three ahead of Benin, even if they beat Lesotho. Centre-back Thabo Moloisane suffered a head injury in the 3-0 win over Lesotho at Bloemfontein's Toyota Stadium and it is unclear whether or not he will be back in time for the game against Nigeria at the same venue.

The Belgian mentor said they would continue to run their own race and not worry about what the other teams are doing in Group C.
Injured right-back Nyiko Mobbie has been replaced in the Bafana squad by Thabiso Monyane. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has announced his 23-man squad for South Africa’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September. "There are nine points to play for, if it doesn't happen on Tuesday, there are the next matches. We shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves to get it done but it will mean a lot if we seal it as soon as possible," the Belgian said. Bafana (16 points from seven games) are looking to win their fifth qualifying match in a row after going to their fourth with their 3-0 victory against Lesotho at Free State Stadium on Friday. Coach Hugo Broos’ charges remain top of Group C with 16 points after seven matches, while the Nigerians are third with 10 points from the same number of games.