South Africa leads Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after a 2-0 win over Lesotho. Nigeria is four points behind, having also secured a victory over Rwanda. Head coach Hugo Broos is optimistic about Nigeria’s role in assisting South Africa’s qualification efforts, stressing the need for focus and discipline as they approach upcoming matches.
South Africa has taken a two-point lead in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following a decisive 2-0 victory over Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadion. The match saw Relebohile Mofokeng score the first goal shortly after the break, followed by a strike from Jayden Adams just minutes later, solidifying their position in the group.
In another crucial match, Nigeria defeated Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali with two goals from Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. However, Nigeria remains four points behind South Africa, complicating their chances for automatic qualification as they still need to play against South Africa in a future match.
Hugo Broos, the head coach of South Africa, expressed optimism that Nigeria could aid Bafana Bafana’s quest for qualification. He noted Nigeria’s win over Rwanda, emphasizing that Nigeria can no longer afford to lose points and will be determined in their remaining matches.
Broos remarked, “You know I said a few days ago that there was a team or country in the group who can help us a lot and it is Nigeria… They cannot afford themselves anymore to lose points.” Despite their current lead, Broos underscored the need for South Africa to maintain focus and control their destiny in the qualifiers, stating, “It’s up to us to do what we have to do.”
Looking ahead, Broos encouraged his players to remain disciplined as they prepare to encounter the Republic of Benin. He stressed the importance of not making errors and ensuring they retain their advantageous position. “The situation is good for the moment. It’s up to us to keep it that way,” he concluded, urging vigilance in their upcoming matches.
In summary, South Africa’s recent success in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers has been bolstered by Nigeria’s performance against Rwanda, creating a scenario where both teams’ fates are intertwined. Hugo Broos emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus for South Africa while relying on Nigeria to help bolster their qualification prospects. Ongoing discipline and consistent performance are critical as the qualifiers progress toward key matches.
Original Source: www.allnigeriasoccer.com
