National Teams
World Cup Qualifier: Hugo Broos confirms South Africa’s mission against Nigeria
By Wale Mustapha
Head Coach of South Africa’s men’s national football team, Hugo Broos, has stated that Bafana Bafana are on a revenge mission in their encounter with Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday.
The two arch-rivals in African football will face off in the continuation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The Super Eagles bested Bafana Bafana in the semifinals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament earlier this year.
Broos emphasized that his side is ready to give it their all against the three-time AFCON winners on Friday, even though he is aware that their hosts will have the upper hand with home support.
“We were the better side at our last meeting some months ago, and my team is looking good to grind out a result against the Super Eagles this weekend,” Broos said. “Let’s go to Nigeria and Zimbabwe, qualify for the World Cup. Everybody knows that every one of us wants to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, but we are facing two very tough games.”
“First of all, Nigeria, AFCON finalists, have players playing in the best European competitions. On the other side, we saw what we can do against them at AFCON. If we had a little bit of luck against them, we would have made the final and not Nigeria.
“I think we were the best team in the AFCON semifinals; we could have won that. So, we don’t have to be afraid,” the coach stated in an interview with Far Post.
The Bafana Bafana contingent is due to arrive in Nigeria later on Wednesday for the Friday clash.
