- Eric Chelle has experience beating South Africa, having led Mali to a 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana in the AFCON group stage
- Nigeria and South Africa have built a fierce rivalry, with their last two meetings ending in a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout victory for Nigeria at AFCON 2023
- History favours Nigeria in this fixture, with eight wins in 16 meetings, but with South Africa enjoying home advantage, past records may count for little in September
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is proving to be a tough one for Nigeria, and head coach Eric Chelle has made it clear that defeating South Africa is a non-negotiable task if the Super Eagles are to stay in the race.
With just four matches remaining in the qualification campaign, Nigeria sits in a difficult position in Group C, trailing leaders South Africa by six points.
The Bafana Bafana currently hold the top spot with 13 points after securing vital wins over Lesotho and the Benin Republic in March. In contrast, Nigeria’s qualifying hopes suffered a setback after a frustrating 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe, despite a crucial 2-0 away win over Rwanda.
Now, the Super Eagles must make up lost ground, starting with a home fixture against Rwanda in Uyo before they head to South Africa for what could be a decisive showdown.
Chelle has acknowledged the weight of the upcoming clashes, emphasising that while Rwanda is the immediate priority, the battle against South Africa is a must-win encounter,
“It’s an obligation we win in South Africa, but the most important match for us right now is Rwanda in Uyo, South Africa are a good side, but for that game, we cannot afford to allow them to play. But first, we have to beat Rwanda at home and then we will focus on the game in South Africa,” Chelle stated.
Nigeria and South Africa share a heated football rivalry, with their recent clashes proving intense. Their last meeting in June 2024 ended in a 1-1 draw in Uyo, where Fisayo Dele-Bashiru rescued a point for the Super Eagles.
Chelle, however, is no stranger to beating South Africa. As Mali’s head coach in AFCON 2023, he led his side to a dominant 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana in the group stage, and he will now be hoping to replicate that success with Nigeria.
Historically, Nigeria have had the upper hand in this fixture, winning eight of their 16 meetings, while South Africa has only managed two victories.
However, past records will mean little in September when the two sides face off with everything on the line. With South Africa enjoying home advantage and Nigeria desperate for points, the upcoming clash promises to be a defining moment in both teams’ World Cup ambitions.
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Previously, TheRadar reported that FIFA, the global body governing football, has sanctioned a number of countries for breaching its rules over the years.
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