Hugo Broos, head coach of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, expresses confidence in Nigeria’s potential to aid their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes after South Africa’s recent victory over Lesotho. Despite leading Group C, Broos emphasizes the need for South Africa to maintain discipline and focus in their upcoming matches, while acknowledging the Super Eagles’ critical role in the qualification campaign.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, South Africa currently leads Group C by a two-point margin after a 2-0 victory against Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadion. This match saw Relebohile Mofokeng score first, followed shortly by Jayden Adams to secure the win. Meanwhile, Nigeria also triumphed with a 2-0 win against Rwanda, propelled by a first-half brace from striker Victor Osimhen, yet they remain four points behind South Africa.
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has expressed assurance that Nigeria’s performance will be crucial for his team’s chances of qualification. Broos noted the significance of Nigeria’s recent win against Rwanda, which tightened the race for qualification. He remarked that Nigeria, now unable to afford any further dropped points, will be motivated to secure victories in their upcoming matches.
Broos stated, “You know I said a few days ago that there was a team or country in the group who can help us a lot and it is Nigeria. You saw they beat Rwanda today.” He emphasized the importance for South Africa to maintain focus and continue to perform well in their games.
Furthermore, Broos underlined that South Africa must concentrate on their next qualifier against the Republic of Benin, urging the team to remain disciplined. He concluded, “It’s up to us to keep it that way and, certainly next Tuesday in Ivory Coast, not to do anything stupid.” His comments reflect a balanced outlook, recognizing both the advantages of their current lead and the need to stay vigilant going forward.
The article highlights South Africa’s current standing in the World Cup qualification stages, with Hugo Broos relying on Nigeria’s performance to bolster their chances of success. As South Africa manages a lead over Nigeria, Broos calls for focus and discipline from his squad ahead of crucial upcoming matches. Both teams face a challenging path as they aim for qualification, demonstrating the competitive nature of the group dynamics.
Original Source: www.allnigeriasoccer.com