South Africa’s Bold Quest for Glory

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, exudes confidence as his team edges closer to securing a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket in a highly competitive Group C. Despite stiff competition from Nigeria and other contenders, Broos believes that his side’s recent form and growing quality position them as favorites to progress.

Currently, the Bafana Bafana are tied on seven points with group leaders Rwanda, trailing only on goal difference. Nigeria’s Super Eagles, however, languish in an unexpected fifth place with just three points, leaving them with an uphill battle as the qualifiers progress.

Broos, who guided South Africa to the top of Group K during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, sees the World Cup campaign as the next frontier. “Step by step, we’re becoming a very good team,” Broos said. “I’m confident that we can do it. The quality is there, but we still need to execute.”

South Africa’s resurgence has been evident since their heartbreaking semifinal loss to Nigeria at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. They have remained unbeaten since, including a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles in Uyo during the World Cup qualifiers—a match they nearly won.

As they prepare to host Lesotho and visit Zimbabwe in their next matches, Broos is optimistic that maximum points will secure their qualification. Meanwhile, Nigeria faces a daunting task: they must win all their remaining games while hoping for slip-ups from South Africa and Rwanda.

The qualifiers resume in March 2025, with Nigeria traveling to Rwanda in a must-win encounter, while South Africa hosts Lesotho, aiming to solidify their lead.