South Africa’s Bafana Bafana have taken control of Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the threat of a resurgent Nigeria looms large as the competition intensifies.

On Friday, Nigeria revived their qualification hopes with a crucial 2-0 away victory against Rwanda in Kigali. Star striker Victor Osimhen’s first-half brace delivered the Super Eagles’ first win of the campaign under new Malian coach Éric Chelle. The win lifted Nigeria from fifth to fourth place, taking them to six points and putting them back in contention.

For South Africa, this result proved beneficial. Their hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Lesotho at home in Polokwane saw them surge to the top of the group with nine points, two ahead of Rwanda and Benin. With five matches remaining, the group remains wide open, but Bafana’s fate is firmly in their hands.

South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos acknowledged Nigeria’s win as a double-edged sword. While it helped Bafana gain a cushion, it also signaled that the Super Eagles will be relentless in their pursuit of World Cup qualification.

“I said a few days ago that there was a team in the group that can help us a lot, and this is Nigeria,” Broos said. “They can’t afford to drop any more points. Against every team, they’ll fight to win. We are four points ahead of them for now, but we must focus on our own performances.”

South Africa’s next challenge comes on Tuesday when they face Benin in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A win there would strengthen their grip on the group. However, a loss combined with a Nigerian victory over Zimbabwe could see the Super Eagles close the gap to just one point.

Broos expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort against Lesotho. After a goalless first half, Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, and Jayden Adams doubled the lead four minutes later.

“I told the players we might have to fight more than play football, and we did both,” Broos remarked. “We created several chances, and though we were unlucky at times, our determination paid off. The lessons we learned from our Afcon journey are showing.”

Looking ahead, Broos is urging his team to remain focused and avoid complacency.

“The situation is good now, but we must maintain it,” he warned. “Tuesday’s match will be as challenging as today. If we stay prepared and play with the same intensity, we can achieve another victory.”

As the qualifiers progress, the battle for World Cup spots is heating up. South Africa may lead the way, but with Nigeria back in form, the race is far from over.