2026 World Cup qualifier: South Africa vs Nigeria preview, where to watch

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South Africa vs Nigeria volition beryllium the most-watched crippled astatine the 2026 World Cup qualifiers erstwhile some sides look each different successful Bloemfontein connected Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The past clip some sides met was astatine the ame is important for some sides met was astatine the semi-final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with the West Africa giants emerging arsenic winners connected penalties. Both teams are connected antithetic ends successful the group. South Africa presently tops the radical with 16 points portion Nigeria inhabit 3rd spot with 10 points.

There is simply a anticipation that the points deduction could beryllium reduced to 3 points. However, determination is nary authoritative connection from FIFA yet regarding whether oregon not Bafana Bafana volition beryllium docked 3 points for fielding the suspended Teboho Mokoena successful the 2-0 triumph implicit Lesotho successful March. As a result, determination is inactive immoderate grade of uncertainty regarding the existent presumption of the group.

The first-placed teams from the 9 groups volition unafraid automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which volition beryllium hosted successful the USA, Mexico and Canada, portion the champion 4 teams that decorativeness successful 2nd spot volition look each different successful a knockout phase.

Recent form

South Africa are precocious connected assurance pursuing their 3-0 triumph implicit Lesotho portion the Super Eagles struggled to bushed Rwanda successful Uyo.

Head-to-head ( South Africa vs Nigeria)

Both teams person met 17 times, with Nigeria winning 8, drafting 7, and losing conscionable 2. Nigeria person scored 27 portion South Africa has scored 12.

Team news

Nigeria volition beryllium without 2 of its cardinal players successful Victor Osimhen and Stanley Nwabali. The Galatasaray guardant did not question with the squad to South Africa portion the goalkeeper was sent disconnected successful the crippled against Rwanda.

South Africa are not without immoderate large absentee up of the game.