2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Crucial three points leave Finidi George and Hugo Broos at a crossroad

Former Ajax star Finidi George is on a rescue mission, having taken the role of the Super Eagles’ head coach following the exit of Jose Peseiro, Soccernet.ng reports.

Under the Portuguese gaffer, four points were lost against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, with both World Cup qualifying matches ending in 1-1 draws.

Meanwhile, Hugo Broos led Bafana Bafana to their first bronze medal in 23 years after Nigeria sent them to a third-place finish following a 4-2 penalty defeat in the semi-final of the African Nations Cup.

Retaining his position as head coach, Broos is tasked with securing a World Cup ticket for South Africa, their first since 2010.

However, their participation is now in jeopardy after a 2-1 victory against Benin Republic and a 2-0 loss to Rwanda, intensifying their desire for victory against Nigeria.

More Than a Revenge Mission

Nigeria last defeated South Africa in a 4-2 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the Peace Stadium in Boigne, Côte D’Ivoire, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

This upcoming match is a revenge mission for Broos, who is eager to avenge the loss that could have placed his team in the tournament final against Côte d’Ivoire.

“I think one minute to the end, the big chance that Khuliso had, if he could have scored that goal, we were in the final. And as I said earlier, if we were in the final we had a chance against Ivory Coast,” Broos told SABC as earlier reported by Soccernet.ng.

More than a revenge mission, the Belgian tactician views the match against Nigeria—the toughest team in the qualifiers group—as a must-win following their embarrassing 2-0 loss to Rwanda.

Finidi and Broos Want to Win

Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Nigeria’s Super Eagles are slated to face off at the Nest of Champions, Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday at 8:00 pm Nigerian time.

Broos believes his team has progressed well over the last two years—claiming third in AFCON—and a World Cup ticket would signify their growth.

“We’ve had much progress in the last two years, and the results are there, now we want more. When you’re a sportsman, you want more. So we want to go to the World Cup,” Broos told SABC, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

On the other hand, the new Super Eagles manager has emphasized the importance of winning the crucial World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic scheduled for later this week.

“The World Cup qualification matches against South Africa and Benin Republic are a collective responsibility for all Nigerians. I know I am in charge now and the heavy responsibility is on me to win the two World Cup matches. I will do my best to ensure success and qualify for the World Cup. I am also in touch with the players and they are ready and willing to give their all having missed out in the last edition held in Qatar,” Finidi said in presser witnessed by Soccernet.ng.

Both Teams Know Their Prey

The two teams are well aware of what to expect when they face each other at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday, following their recent encounter at the Nations Cup.

Finidi has been monitoring South Africa’s style of play and is preparing his team accordingly.

“In terms of having knowledge of our opponents, I have been following them. The world today is a global village; one can monitor anything from the comfort of their home. Just as we are working hard to qualify, they are doing the same to beat us in the World Cup,” Finidi said.

Broos acknowledges the difficulty of the clash and understands it won’t be easy for his team to overcome Nigeria, but they are ready for the challenge.

“It will not be easy, and certainly not with Nigeria. But I think we have confidence and we believe in ourselves because of our AFCON performances. We will see in the next year where we stand, but the mission is to go to the World Cup,” said the Belgian coach.

Both teams will be aiming for victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Friday. For South Africa, it is more than a revenge mission, and for Nigeria, it is a must-win game.