Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba believes Nigeria’s Super Eagles will once again defeat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
Nigeria Boosts Hopes with Rwanda Win
Nigeria kept their qualification dreams alive on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo. The victory pushed the Super Eagles to 10 points in Group C. A win against South Africa could put Nigeria level on points with Bafana Bafana. Meanwhile, South Africa may face a three-point deduction for fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in March.
Ikpeba Stresses Nigeria’s Mental Advantage
Speaking on SuperSport, Ikpeba explained that football often comes down to mentality. He argued that Nigeria usually enjoys a psychological edge over South Africa. He recalled the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and the most recent edition, where South Africa impressed but still fell short against the Super Eagles.
“Tuesday’s clash puts more pressure on South Africa,” Ikpeba said. He added that Nigeria’s win over Rwanda gave them valuable momentum heading into the match.
South Africa Strong but Vulnerable
Ikpeba praised South Africa’s squad and their experienced coach, Hugo Broos. However, he stressed that Nigeria has the quality to prevail. He urged the Super Eagles to stay sharp, insisting Bafana Bafana will eventually make costly mistakes.
Osimhen Injury Setback
The Super Eagles left Uyo for Bloemfontein on Sunday morning without star striker Victor Osimhen. The Napoli forward picked up an injury in the first half of Saturday’s win over Rwanda and withdrew from the travelling squad.
