By Dayo Awoniyi
Former Nigeria goalkeeper Greg Etafia has tipped the Super Eagles to claim a vital victory against South Africa in Bloemfontein as the race for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.
The ex-international, now a goalkeeper coach with TS Galaxy in the South African Premier League, stressed that every remaining fixture is crucial for Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the tournament to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“We must win all our games. But what they really need is for South Africa to lose those three points,” Etafia told iDiskiTimes.
Stressing the importance of collective responsibility, Etafia said the Super Eagles must approach the clash with total commitment, knowing that millions of Nigerians are counting on them.
“The team is fighting for those points on behalf of everyone back home, the supporters and the country. Those three points will be vital,” he added.
Despite the challenges facing Nigeria in Group D, Etafia expressed confidence in the team’s ability to finish strong.
“Nigeria believes they can win the rest of their matches, including against South Africa. And if South Africa gets docked points, that gives us an even greater chance,” he said.
The former Moroka Swallows shot-stopper reiterated that qualifying for the World Cup is non-negotiable for the Super Eagles, urging the players to seize the moment when they step out in Bloemfontein.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
