2026 WCQ: South Africa boss hoping to beat Nigeria to seal qualification ticket

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has set his sights on sealing a historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Nigeria next Tuesday in Bloemfontein.

The Bafana Bafana sit comfortably atop Group C after their 3-0 victory over Lesotho and now find themselves within touching distance of a ticket to the USA.

Friday’s win lifted South Africa to 16 points, five clear of second-place Benin and a massive nine points ahead of Nigeria, who are struggling in fourth place.

The permutations are straightforward: if Rwanda and Benin drop points, and Bafana Bafana manage to beat the Super Eagles, they would officially secure qualification next week.

Broos, buoyed by his team’s strong run, struck an optimistic tone. “We won against Lesotho today. And now we will see next week against Nigeria. If God is with us, then we can maybe qualify for the World Cup by next Tuesday, and that stays as the target for us,” the Belgian tactician said.

With home advantage at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, he is confident his side has what it takes to finish the job.

Despite their struggles, the Super Eagles remain a dangerous opponent, boasting one of the most talented squads on the continent.

For Nigeria, victory in Rwanda on Saturday is non-negotiable if they are to keep their faint qualification hopes alive.

Adding intrigue to the battle is the unresolved issue of South Africa’s potential points deduction for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in earlier qualifiers.

Should FIFA dock three points and three goals, the group standings could shift dramatically, offering a lifeline to Nigeria, but only if they can win in Bloemfontein.