2026 WCQ: South Africa to prepare for Super Eagles with Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini friendlies

As part of their preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa will play Eswatini and Ivory Coast in friendly games in October, Soccernet.ng reports

The South African Football Association announced the double-header international fixtures on Saturday, October 23.

The FA also disclosed the names of 36 players set to participate in these crucial friendlies. Head Coach Hugo Broos is expected to narrow the list down to the final 23, shaping the squad for the upcoming matches.

On October 13, South Africa will trade tackles with Eswatini, followed by a head-to-head encounter with Côte d’Ivoire just four days later. These games stand as key training opportunities for the South African squad under the watchful eye of Coach Broos.

In the same month, Nigeria will lock horns with Saudi Arabia in an international friendly.

Recall that the Super Eagles are slated to take on South Africa in June 2024 on matchday three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The return fixture of that encounter on South African soil is scheduled for September 2025.

Both countries will aim to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup after missing out on the last few editions.

South Africa's FIFA World Cup journey has seen its share of disappointments, with absences in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions following their role as World Cup hosts in 2010.

Similarly, Nigeria missed the 2022 World Cup, bowing out to Ghana's Black Stars in the playoffs.

South Africa and Nigeria also have their sights set on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, slated to take place in Côte d’Ivoire.