- Agency Report
Some football enthusiasts on Monday expressed mixed feelings ahead of the Super Eagles’ chances in the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews ahead of Tuesday’s clash, scheduled for Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Sports broadcaster Gift Anderson urged the Super Eagles to secure victory in the tie and in the remaining qualifying fixtures to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
He admitted the task would be challenging, especially as the team play away in Bloemfontein without star striker Victor Osimhen leading the attack.
According to him, the game is a must-win encounter, placing more pressure on both the coach and players after earlier dropped points in the campaign.
“South Africa have a good side, but the Super Eagles have more experienced players, which should boost their determination to turn the tie in their favour,” Anderson said.
He urged the team to follow tactical instructions, convert scoring chances, and maintain defensive discipline, stressing that playing away would make the task more difficult.
Football fan Sefiu Adedayo, however, dismissed Nigeria’s chances, arguing that the Super Eagles no longer inspire confidence in spite of boasting quality players across Europe.
He said Nigeria often leave qualification to late calculations and permutations, frustrating fans who expect consistency and proper planning from the team and the football federation.
“At their level, they struggle with teams they should beat comfortably. This is down to poor planning and weak leadership from the Nigeria Football Federation,” Adedayo said.
Sports reporter Akeem Busari warned the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes hang by a thread, requiring “Abrahamic faith” to believe Nigeria will be at the 2026 World Cup.
He criticised FIFA’s scheduling, which sees South Africa enjoy unusual home advantage, as Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Benin opted to host matches in South Africa due to poor pitches.
For instance, Lesotho’s recent ‘home’ fixture against South Africa, which ended 3-0, was played in Bloemfontein, the same city hosting Nigeria’s clash on Tuesday.
Busari noted that Zimbabwe will also play their final ‘home’ game against South Africa in South Africa, effectively granting Bafana Bafana extra home fixtures.
He questioned why the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) did not protest the arrangement, arguing that South Africa’s influential CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, may have swayed decisions.
“Silence is consent, and the NFF is complicit in the mess our qualification campaign has become,” he said, criticising Nigeria’s poor results in earlier matches.
NAN reports that Nigeria last defeated South Africa on their home soil in 2013. Since 1992, Nigeria has nine wins, South Africa two, with six draws.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in South Africa has pledged massive support. The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa, Smart Nwobi, confirmed members will storm Bloemfontein in solidarity. NAN