South Africa head coach wary of Chelle’s Nigeria ahead of March World Cup Qualifiers

“Yeah, the Mali coach [is now with Nigeria], I don’t know what’s happening in Nigeria, for me it’s a surprise that they are already four points behind us, they have played only draws and lost also,” Broos in quotes revealed by iDiski Times.

“This is not Nigeria we know. The quality is much better than where they are now [in the group], but they will come back, they will come back – but they are four points behind us. So, they have to win two more games than us to pass us.”

“The rest, we started with it, Lesotho, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe you have to play those games, its’ not like before where you say, ‘oh we will win. No, they are still in the running; all the teams are still in the running.

Next month could be key, and maybe it will be clearer after that. For example, some countries could be ruled out, so it’s important to win the two games,” the 72-year-old gaffer concluded.

Eric Chelle will make his debut as Nigeria's head coach during the March International Break. The Super Eagles will be desperate for wins against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, while hoping South Africa slip up in their matches.They travel to face Rwanda on the 19th of March, before welcoming Zimbabwe to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on the 22nd of March.

Bafana Bafana will face Lesotho on March 17 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane before taking on Benin Republic at the same venue, where the Cheetahs will be the designated home team.