Boost for Nigeria As Top Bafana Bafana Star Misses World Cup Qualifier Squad
- The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match next month
- Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos announced the preliminary squad today, and a key player is missing
- Eric Chelle and Nigeria face must-win games against Rwanda and South Africa to keep their qualification hopes alive
Eric Chelle has received a massive boost ahead of next month's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier after a top South African star missed Bafana Bafana’s squad.
Nigeria face must-win matches against the Amavubi of Rwanda and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa to boost their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.
Source: Twitter
Any result short of victory in these games, particularly against South Africa, will end the three-time African champions’ chances of qualifying for the Mundial.
Nigeria sit fourth in Group C with seven points after six matches. Rwanda and Benin Republic are second and third with eight points, while South Africa have 13 points. Lesotho and Zimbabwe sit bottom of the group.
Eric Chelle took charge when Nigeria had three points from the opening four matches and won his first match to boost the chances of qualifying.
However, the hopes took a massive dent when the team fell to an embarrassing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
South Africa have an impending three-point deduction after fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena during their 2-0 win over Lesotho on matchday five.
The expected decision and all maximum points in the remaining four matches give Nigeria a bit of hope to qualify automatically as group winners.
Boost for Nigeria as South Africa releases squad
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos announced his preliminary squad for the World Cup qualifier games against Lesotho and Nigeria next month.
As noted by Briefly Sports, experienced forward Percy Tau was left out of the squad, news that will be a boost for Eric Chelle’s side as they have one less player to worry about.
Tau recently joined Vietnamese V.League 1 champions Xanh Nam Dinh FC after leaving Qatar Sports Club, ending speculation that he would return to the Premier Soccer League.
Source: Getty Images
The Nigeria Football Federation is yet to release the Super Eagles list for the crucial matches, but it is expected to be announced before the end of next week.
Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the Eagles list, while there are questions over Ademola Lookman after going AWOL to force a move away from Atalanta.
According to Score Nigeria, there's a shift in the call-up for some fringe players, with Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers expected to get the nod over Paul Onuachu.
Pinnick confident in Nigeria's World Cup hopes
Legit.ng reported that Amaju Pinnick is confident that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite a poor start to the qualifiers.
The former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) believes it is never over until it is over, which was the mantra that helped the team in 2018.
Source: Legit.ng
