South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos has stated that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will play a crucial role in helping Bafana Bafana secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite being rivals in Group C of the African qualifiers.
Nigeria and South Africa Shake Up Group C
South Africa moved to the top of the group on Saturday following a 2-0 victory over Lesotho, while Nigeria revived their campaign with a crucial 2-0 win over Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Benin Republic, who had been level on points with South Africa before this round of fixtures, dropped to second after a 2-2 draw with Zimbabwe.
With Nigeria hosting Zimbabwe on Tuesday and South Africa traveling to face Benin Republic, the group standings could shift significantly.
A win for Nigeria and a draw for South Africa would reduce the gap between both teams to just two points.
However, Hugo Broos remains confident that Nigeria’s struggles earlier in the qualifiers will ultimately work in South Africa’s favor.
Hugo Broos: “Nigeria Will Help Us – You’ll See”
At his post-match press conference following the win over Lesotho, Hugo Broos revealed his belief that Nigeria’s need to win every remaining match will indirectly benefit South Africa.
“You know I said a few days ago that there was a team or country in the group who could help us a lot, and it is Nigeria. You saw they beat Rwanda today,” Broos said.
“They cannot afford themselves anymore to lose points. Against every team they will do everything to win, and at the moment, we have four points ahead of Nigeria.”
“It’s up to us to do what we have to do, and when we do that, Nigeria will help us—you’ll see.”
Broos’ confidence comes despite the unpredictable nature of the qualifiers, where each team still has a chance to challenge for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
No Guaranteed Starters for South Africa
Looking ahead to Tuesday’s crucial match against Benin Republic, Broos issued a warning to his squad, making it clear that no player is assured a place in the starting lineup.
“No one is guaranteed a regular starting place. We are a family of 23, not 11,” the 72-year-old Belgian stated.
Youngsters Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams, who scored the goals in South Africa’s win over Lesotho, may not necessarily start against Benin.
“Lesotho were the right opponents for them to start, but maybe not Benin,” Broos added, hinting at potential tactical adjustments.
Benin vs South Africa: A Tough Test for Bafana Bafana
South Africa will face Benin Republic in Abidjan, as Benin lacks a FIFA-approved stadium to host home matches. While Broos believes this situation may slightly favor his team, he remains cautious.
“Benin having to host the top-of-the-table showdown in the Ivory Coast because they lack a FIFA-approved stadium will help a little,” Hugo Broos said.
However, he acknowledged South Africa’s historical struggles against physically dominant teams like Benin.
South Africa will be hoping for an improved performance from Burnley forward Lyle Foster, who had a quiet game against Lesotho, while Benin will rely on experienced striker Steve Mounié to lead their attack.
World Cup Qualifying Controversies Looming in Other Groups
Beyond Group C, several teams are facing off-field battles that could impact the qualification process.
Equatorial Guinea Appeals FIFA’s Ruling on Emilio Nsue
Equatorial Guinea has formally challenged FIFA’s ruling that saw them forfeit their victories over Namibia and Liberia due to the ineligibility of Emilio Nsue.
Initially, FIFA altered their 1-0 wins into 3-0 losses after determining that Nsue—who was born in Spain—was not eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea.
However, Equatorial Guinea argues that anyone born to an Equatoguinean parent is automatically a citizen, making Nsue eligible.
Should their appeal succeed, Equatorial Guinea would move from fifth to second in Group H, currently led by Tunisia.
Congo Suspension Creates Uncertainty in Group E
Group E is also mired in uncertainty following the suspension of Congo Brazzaville due to government interference.
If Congo is ultimately removed from the qualifiers, the group—currently led by Morocco—would be reduced to four teams playing only six matches, while other groups would still have 10-game schedules.
This situation could impact the rankings of second-placed teams vying for playoff spots.
To address the imbalance, FIFA may consider using an average points-per-game system, a method that was implemented by some leagues, including Major League Soccer, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Race for Africa’s World Cup Spots Heats Up
With nine group winners automatically qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and the four best-ranked runners-up heading into playoffs for a potential additional spot, every matchday is crucial.
As the qualifiers progress, teams will not only have to perform on the pitch but also navigate the growing number of boardroom disputes that could shape the final standings.
