2026 World Cup: We Can Beat Nigeria - South Africa Coach Shifts Attention To Qualifier

2026 World Cup: We Can Beat Nigeria - South Africa Coach Shifts Attention To Qualifier

Sampson Adedeji

After losing to Nigeria in the semi-final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the head coach of South Africa Bafana Bafana Hugo Broos has shifted his attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifier, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 1996 African champions will be the guests of the Super Eagles in the match day 3 of the qualifier in June and Broos is already thinking of victory in the game.

"When there is a draw for AFCON or the World Cup and you see Nigeria in your group, it is normal that this will be the team to beat.

"But after Wednesday’s AFCON semifinal defeat to them on penalties, we know that we can beat them.

“They will make our chances to qualify for the World Cup bigger, which is where we have to focus.

“We have to focus on being at the World Cup because after 24 years we had a semifinal at AFCON. 

“The next focus must be qualifying for the World Cup in 2026.

 It is not going to be easy, I have already spoken about Nigeria but there is also Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in our group", he said.