World Cup
Super Eagles Captain Ekong Vows Confidence Without Arrogance Ahead of Showdown with Bafana Bafana
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has assured Nigerian fans that his team will step onto the pitch with confidence but without arrogance as they prepare to face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.
The highly anticipated encounter, set for the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, carries extra emotional weight following Nigeria’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over the same opponents in the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
But Ekong insists that past glories will count for little when the whistle blows at 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Nigerian time).
“We defeated them at the Africa Cup, but that is in the past, and some changes have been made to both teams since then,” said Ekong, who was named Man of the Competition at the last AFCON.
“Our approach will be devoid of arrogance; we will play with level heads and go all out for victory. There will be no arrogance, but we will not be diffident either.”
The experienced defender emphasized that the Super Eagles respect their South African counterparts but remain firmly focused on their ultimate goal—securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“South Africa is a good team that we respect, but we just have to go on the pitch and play our game. Our objective has not changed; we want to go to the FIFA World Cup finals next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, head coach Eric Chelle, who took over Nigeria’s qualifying campaign midstream, is confident in his reshaped squad’s ability to claim maximum points.
“We have come here to play for the three points, so we will be sending out the team that will get the job done,” Chelle said. “We are happy to have overcome Rwanda, but we have to conquer here tomorrow in order to be in a good position for the qualification.”
Under Chelle, the Super Eagles have taken seven points from a possible nine, showing a marked improvement after a sluggish start to the qualifiers.
The coach believes his team now has the momentum—and the belief—to change the narrative.
Ahead of the match, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Tope Ajayi, visited the team after their final training session on Monday and delivered a rousing message of support.
“I have the confidence that we will win, and many South Africans also believe that Nigeria will win,” Ajayi told the players. “We should go out there and play with gusto, confidence, and courage, and refuse to be intimidated by anything.”
Ajayi invoked the recent success of the Super Falcons in Johannesburg as inspiration, noting his earlier prediction that the women’s team would qualify for the Olympics—and did.
“Now, I am telling you that I am seeing you at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it will be so,” he added.
With high stakes and national pride on the line, Tuesday’s clash promises fireworks in Bloemfontein as Nigeria looks to leapfrog their group rivals and move closer to another World Cup appearance.
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World Cup
World Cup Qualifier Preview: High-Stakes Showdown as South Africa Hosts Nigeria in Bloemfontein
Match Details
- Fixture: South Africa vs Nigeria
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier – CAF Group C
- Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
- Kickoff: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 – 5:00 PM Nigerian Time
All eyes will be on the Free State Stadium on Tuesday, September 9, as South Africa’s Bafana Bafana take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash. With Group C finely poised, this matchup could define the path to North America for both nations.
Group C on a Knife’s Edge
South Africa currently lead the group with 16 points, following an emphatic 3-0 win over Lesotho. Nigeria, meanwhile, sit in third on 10 points after narrowly defeating Rwanda 1-0 on Sunday.
With only the group winners guaranteed a spot at the World Cup, anything less than a win could be disastrous for the Super Eagles, who trail second-placed Benin Republic by just one point.
Pressure Mounts on Nigeria
Despite the talent in their ranks, Nigeria have been inconsistent, registering just two wins from five qualifiers so far.
The pressure is mounting on Eric Chelle’s side, who now face a South African team unbeaten in their last three home qualifiers and brimming with confidence under Belgian coach Hugo Broos.
Injury Concerns and Key Battles
Nigeria will be without star striker Victor Osimhen, who sustained an injury in the victory over Rwanda. His absence will be keenly felt in what is expected to be a tightly contested affair.
South Africa will look to take advantage, with their midfield engine Teboho Mokoena and attacking threats Percy Tau and Themba Zwane expected to play key roles.
A Rivalry Renewed
The rivalry between the two African giants adds further spice to an already crucial encounter. Although Nigeria hold a slight edge in recent head-to-heads, with two wins in the last seven meetings, South Africa have proven a tough nut to crack at home.
Their last three home games against Nigeria have ended in stalemates, including a 1-1 draw earlier in 2024.
Nigeria’s last away win against South Africa came in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Another triumph on Tuesday could reignite their World Cup campaign and shift the momentum in Group C.
With destiny hanging in the balance, both teams will leave everything on the pitch in this heavyweight African encounter.
Victory for South Africa could edge them closer to a return to the World Cup stage, while Nigeria must win to keep their dreams alive.
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World Cup
Foster Eyes Birthday Gift of Victory as South Africa Take on Nigeria in Crucial World Cup Qualifier
South Africa’s striker Lyle Foster is hoping for a belated birthday celebration in the form of three vital points when Bafana Bafana host Nigeria in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Free State Stadium this Tuesday evening.
Foster, who recently marked his birthday in camp with the national team, is unfazed by the high stakes surrounding the upcoming clash against South Africa’s long-time rivals.
Instead, the 24-year-old striker believes the pressure lies squarely on Nigeria and the other teams chasing Bafana Bafana at the top of Group C.
“I don’t necessarily think there’s pressure on us,” said Foster. “I think at the moment we are where we are in the group and that’s a positive. I think pressure is on the guys who are trying to get to us, but that doesn’t mean we should take our foot off the gas or take our foot off the pedal.”
Bafana Bafana In Strong Position
Heading into the encounter, South Africa lead Group C with 16 points from seven matches. Their momentum was boosted by an impressive 3-0 victory over Lesotho on Friday night, a performance that saw them extend their unbeaten run to four matches.
Foster’s confidence in the team’s approach is unwavering. “I think that we should just have the same mentality still and keep steady, keep playing game by game, staying humble and just like I said, taking the game as it comes,” he explained.
“I don’t necessarily think there’s pressure. I think the pressure is on those who are trying to get to us. I think we’ve had a good start, but the most important thing is trying to push forward and make sure that we seal it.”
Nigeria’s Challenge
Meanwhile, Nigeria enters the game with 10 points from seven matches after a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda at home on Saturday. Sitting third in the group, the Super Eagles are under considerable pressure to secure a win to stay in contention for automatic qualification.
Despite their formidable squad, Nigeria has struggled for consistency in the qualifiers, and South Africa will be keen to exploit any weaknesses when the two sides meet.
Looking Ahead
With South Africa in control of their own destiny, Foster’s message to the team is clear: maintain focus and consistency. The stakes are high, but with a solid team performance, a victory on Tuesday could further solidify Bafana Bafana’s World Cup ambitions and potentially put them on the brink of qualification.
The clash kicks off at 5:00 PM Nigerian Time, and Foster will be hoping to mark his birthday week with a goal and a vital win to edge South Africa closer to their dream of competing on the world stage once more.
As both teams head into this defining encounter, one thing is certain: a battle of pride, passion, and destiny awaits in Bloemfontein.
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Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a major hit after a narrow 1-0 loss to Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The defeat, which drops Rwanda to fourth in Group C, has left their Algerian head coach Adel Amrouche grappling with the realities of his team’s dwindling qualification chances.
Despite a well-organized performance and a spirited effort, Amavubi failed to find the back of the net, with the Super Eagles capitalizing on a key opportunity to seal the win and strengthen their own path to the World Cup. Nigeria now sits third in the group with 10 points, six behind table-toppers South Africa, whom they face next in a crucial qualifier.
Rwanda’s head coach expressed his disappointment in the result to Rwanda’s New Times. But he praised his side’s tactical approach and defensive resilience.
“We came with a plan to defeat Nigeria. We held our opponent, and we have statistics for each player during the game,” Amrouche said during a post-match press conference.
“We approached the game the right way, but the difference came down to missed chances and not putting enough pressure on Nigeria.”
One of Rwanda’s standout performers was goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, who made several vital saves to keep the scoreline close. Amrouche lauded his keeper’s efforts, saying, “Fiacre did a great job keeping us in the game. Without him, the score could have been worse.”
He also acknowledged the strength of the Nigerian team but hinted that the hosts were fortunate to claim all three points.
“Nigeria has a good coach in Eric Chelle, and they have quality players. But they were lucky to win today,” Amrouche added.
The defeat extends Rwanda’s winless streak to five matches across all competitions, casting further doubt on their ability to mount a serious challenge for World Cup qualification.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will head into their next fixture against group leaders South Africa with renewed confidence. With just three games left in the qualifiers, the battle for the top spot — and a ticket to the 2026 World Cup — remains fierce.
Group C Standings (Top 4 as of Sept 6, 2025):
- South Africa – 16 pts
- Ghana – 13 pts
- Nigeria – 10 pts
- Rwanda – 7 pts
Rwanda’s next match could prove to be make-or-break, with Amrouche now under pressure to rally his team before their qualification dream slips entirely out of reach.
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World Cup Qualifier Preview: High-Stakes Showdown as South Africa Hosts Nigeria in Bloemfontein
Foster Eyes Birthday Gift of Victory as South Africa Take on Nigeria in Crucial World Cup Qualifier
Super Eagles Captain Ekong Vows Confidence Without Arrogance Ahead of Showdown with Bafana Bafana
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