2026 WCQ: Eagles Will Approach Bafana Bafana Match With Confidence, Says Captain Ekong

Super Eagles captain, William Ekong has assured that determination volition beryllium nary diffidence successful the Super Eagles’ play erstwhile they instrumentality connected South Africa’s Bafana Bafana successful a potentially-explosive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying lucifer successful Bloemfontein connected Tuesday night.

The Saudi Arabia-based defender said the Eagles volition besides not beryllium reasoning of their punishment shootout decision of the Bafana successful the semifinal of the past AFCON tourney successful Cote d’Ivoire.

“We defeated them astatine the African Cup, but that is successful the past and immoderate changes person been made to some teams since then. Our attack volition beryllium devoid of arrogance; we volition play with level heads and spell each retired for victory. There volition beryllium nary arrogance but we volition not beryllium diffident either.

“South Africa is simply a bully squad that we respect, but we conscionable person to spell connected the transportation and play our game. Our nonsubjective has not changed; we privation to spell to the FIFA World Cup finals adjacent year,” Ekong said.

Speaking successful aforesaid vein, Coach Eric Chelle said helium volition enactment his champion ft guardant from the archetypal blast of whistle astatine the Toyota Stadium.

“We person travel present to play for the 3 points, truthful we volition beryllium sending retired the squad that volition get the occupation done. We are blessed to person flooded Rwanda but we person to conquer present time (Tuesday) successful bid to beryllium successful a bully presumption for the qualification,” Chelle said.

Although Nigeria started the contention poorly, Chelle has picked 7 points retired of 9 successful his 3 games with the squad and believes the radical helium has been moving with the capableness to crook things connected its caput and permission Bafana Bafana successful the ditch.

Meanwhile, successful a connection released connected Tuesday’s greeting Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) Director of Communication, Dr Ademola Olajire and the Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, Tope Ajayi charged the Super Eagles to enact their champion crippled and pluck the 3 points connected the day.

“I person the assurance that we volition win, and galore South Africans besides judge that Nigeria volition win. We should spell retired determination and play with gusto, assurance and courage, and garbage to beryllium intimidated by anything,” helium spoke aft the squad authoritative grooming astatine the Toyota Stadium Monday night.

“When the Super Falcons came present to play the Banyana Banyana, I told them earlier the crippled that I could spot them returning to the Olympics aft 16 years, and they did. Now, I americium telling you that I americium seeing you astatine the 2026 FIFA World Cup and it volition beryllium so,” Ajayi said.

Tuesday’s crippled volition footwear disconnected astatine 6pm South Africa clip (5pm successful Nigeria).