The South Africans have grown in confidence after impressing against the West African powerhouse at the AFCON
South Africa football legend Doctor Khumalo has backed the Bafana Bafana to pick the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket ahead of Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria and South Africa are placed together in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers alongside Rwanda, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and the Benin Republic.
With six World Cup appearances and three continental championships in their kitty, the Super Eagles were the big favourites to finish top of the group and seal a spot at the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
However, Nigeria did not start the qualifiers in great form, drawing their first two games with Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
South Africa fared only slightly better, gaining three points from two games after beating Benin and losing to Rwanda.
After stringing together several impressive results, the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana met in the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria won on penalties to advance to the final. Still, South Africa gave a good account of themselves in that encounter before claiming a bronze medal with a triumph over DR Congo in the third-place faceoff.
The two nations will meet again in June, with the winner set to gain an early advantage in the race to qualify for the World Cup.
Khumalo is convinced that South Africa, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2002 and only participated in the 2010 edition as hosts, have what it takes to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Bafana Bafana legend has backed Hugo Broos and his team to find Nigeria a beatable foe in the qualifiers.
“For them to qualify, let’s not dismantle it; it’s not yet broken, so let’s give Hugo support,” Khumalo says as per SABC News.
“Helman and the background staff and the boys, let’s allow them to continue the way they did in Ivory Coast.
“I would like to believe that Nigeria is in our group, but from what I have seen in Ivory Coast, I can bet all my money that SA can overcome that obstacle.”
Nigeria are now the third-best team in Africa following the recent update on the FIFA world rankings.
Only Morocco and Senegal are ahead of the Super Eagles on the continent, who are also rated as the 28th-best footballing team on the planet.
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That Osimen guy is a monster. Quick, strong, good on the ball and jumps like he is on a trampoline. He was a treat, I don't agree with the coach playing that passage Xulu but I understand his fears. I like that Osimen guy.