- South Africa’s World Cup qualification chances now depend partly on Nigeria defeating Benin Republic in their last Group C fixture.
- Hugo Broos believes a Super Eagles victory in Uyo could open the door for Bafana Bafana to progress, provided they beat Rwanda.
- Following a goalless draw with Zimbabwe, South Africa dropped to second place, two points behind Benin Republic and one ahead of Nigeria.
- Broos maintains optimism that with determination and focus, South Africa can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Africa’s national team coach, Hugo Broos, has admitted that his team’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup could rest on Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeating Benin Republic in their final Group C match.
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After a frustrating goalless draw against Zimbabwe, South Africa slipped to second place in the standings. Benin Republic climbed to the top of the table with 17 points following a narrow 1–0 win over Rwanda, while Nigeria sits third with 14 points, keeping the race for qualification wide open.
Speaking to Sport TV after the match, Broos acknowledged that Bafana Bafana must now win their remaining game against Rwanda while hoping Nigeria secures victory over Benin.
“We have to play just like today and try to win the game. Then we’ll see what happens. Maybe Benin will lose to Nigeria or maybe it comes down to goal difference. I don’t have a good view on that yet. But we just have to go for the victory against Rwanda and then see what happens,” Broos stated.
The Belgian coach stressed that his players must maintain their focus, as the situation is still in their hands if they perform well. He added that Nigeria’s performance in Uyo could be the deciding factor in determining which nation earns a direct ticket to the World Cup.
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All eyes are now on Uyo, where the Super Eagles are set to host Benin Republic in a crucial encounter. A win for Nigeria would give South Africa a clear path to qualification, provided they take maximum points against Rwanda in their own fixture.
