South Africa head coach, Hugo Broos, believes Nigeria still has a chance of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their shaky start to the qualifiers.
Broos, while cautioning his Bafana Bafana squad, stressed the importance of not underrating either the Super Eagles or Lesotho as they prepare for their upcoming Group C fixtures in September.
South Africa currently sit top of the table with 13 points from six matches, five points clear of Rwanda and Benin. Nigeria, however, are in fourth place with just seven points, having managed only one win so far.
Bafana Bafana will take on Lesotho on September 5 before welcoming Nigeria to South Africa four days later.
“We knew from the start that the team we had to beat is Nigeria,” Broos told Iol.
“Even though they started badly, they can still qualify.
“The biggest mistake the South African players can make is underestimating Lesotho.
“Remember this Lesotho team held Nigeria to a draw in Nigeria, so we must not make the mistake of underestimating them. We beat Lesotho before, so we must beat them again.”
