By Wale Mustapha
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, insists that the Super Eagles of Nigeria still have a realistic chance of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite their shaky start to the campaign.
The Bafana Bafana currently top Group C with 13 points from six matches, six clear of Nigeria, who sit fourth on the log. Both sides will clash on September 9 in a decisive qualifier.
Broos cautioned his players against complacency, warning that both Nigeria and Lesotho remain dangerous opponents in the qualification race.
“We knew from the start that the team we had to beat is Nigeria,” Broos told IOL.
“Even though they started badly, they can still qualify. The biggest mistake South African players can make is underestimating Lesotho.
“Remember, this Lesotho team held Nigeria to a draw in Nigeria, so we must not take them lightly. We beat Lesotho before, so we must beat them again.”
The outcome of next month’s fixtures could prove decisive in shaping Group C’s qualification picture as the race for North America 2026 heats up.
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.
