South Africa plots to beat Nigeria to World Cup ticket

Bafana Bafana of South Africa’s Coach, Hugo Broos, believes his team will beat Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup ticket, if they defeat Benin Republic in Cote d’Ivoire on March 27, 2025.

Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Benin Republic and Zimbabwe are in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifying series, with Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic leading the group with seven points.

Lesotho is fourth on the log with five points, while Nigeria and Zimbabwe follow on three and two points respectively. South Africa will meet Lesotho on March 17, the same day Nigeria will be away to Rwanda. The Bafana Bafana will then travel to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to meet Benin Republic on March 24, which is also the same day Nigeria will host Zimbabwe in Uyo.

According to Broos’ calculations, if the Bafana Bafana beat the Cheetahs of Benin in Cote d’Ivoire, it would pave the way for a smooth sail to the World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Broos told South African publication, ofm.co.za, that while the team is confident of winning the ticket, they remain cautious about the challenges ahead, particularly the threat posed by Benin, who are better than many people realise.

South Africa’s position is straightened by the fact that two of the Southern African teams in Group C, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, play their home games on South African soil because they don’t have the facilities to host international games of such magnitude. He said: “Starting with Lesotho – we are playing here in South Africa, so OK, this is a must-win.

“Benin is maybe stronger than everyone thinks, especially when playing away. When we go there, they will be playing in Cote d’Ivoire. We have good experiences in Ivory Coast, so we can be a little optimistic, but again, these will be very difficult games in March.”

The coach hinted that he will retire after the 2026 World Cup provided South Africa manages to qualify. South Africa is in a strong position to qualify but still faces tough games. Broos stated that coaching at the World Cup remains his ultimate goal.

“It’s also, for me, a big ambition to be there. I was there as a player at the World Cup, but I really want to be there as a coach. I will be 74 years old next year, and I think it’s a very nice moment to end my career. So, let’s hope we can achieve it.”