South Africa took a major step toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a solid 2-0 victory over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday night. Goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams in the second half secured all three points, allowing Bafana Bafana to establish a two-point lead at the top of Group C.
Meanwhile, Nigeria bolstered their own qualification hopes with a 2-0 win against Rwanda in Kigali, thanks to a first-half brace from Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. However, despite the victory, the Super Eagles still trail South Africa by four points at the halfway stage of the qualifiers.
Hugo Broos Sees Nigeria as Key to Bafana’s Success
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, believes Nigeria’s determination to stay in contention could indirectly benefit his team. Speaking after his side’s win over Lesotho, Broos emphasized that the Super Eagles have no margin for error and will fight for every point, potentially disrupting South Africa’s closest rivals in the group.
“Nigeria is the team that can help us a lot,” Broos stated during his post-match press conference. “You saw them beat Rwanda today. They can’t afford to drop points anymore. Against every opponent, they will push to win. Right now, we have a four-point lead over them, which puts us in a strong position.”
Despite this advantage, Broos cautioned his team against complacency, stressing that they must remain focused to capitalize on their position.
“It’s up to us to do our job. If we stay disciplined and keep winning, Nigeria will help us, just watch,” he added confidently.
South Africa Must Stay Focused Ahead of Benin Clash
Looking ahead, South Africa will face Benin in their next qualifier, a match Broos sees as crucial in maintaining momentum. He urged his squad to remain disciplined and avoid any slip-ups.
“The situation is good for now, but we must keep it that way. Next Tuesday in Ivory Coast, we need to ensure we don’t make any costly mistakes,” he concluded.
With the qualifiers heating up, South Africa’s fate remains in their hands, but Nigeria’s results could play a key role in shaping the group’s final standings.
