Anticipating the upcoming match between the Super Eagles and South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, former Nigerian player Mutiu Adepoju shared his insights on the game.
Adepoju believes that the clash between Bafana Bafana and the Super Eagles will be a challenging one.
Despite Nigeria’s underwhelming performance leading up to the competition, they surprised many by making it to the final in Ivory Coast.
In a tense semifinal showdown, Nigeria emerged victorious against the Bafana Bafana, eliminating them from the tournament in a penalty shootout.
With South Africa set to face Nigeria in Uyo for this crucial fixture, Adepoju highlighted the growing rivalry between the two nations, likening it to the historical matchups of Nigeria versus Ghana or Cameroon.
As Group C of the qualifying series approaches matchday 3, the competition remains fierce, with only a two-point difference between first-placed Rwanda and fifth-placed Zimbabwe.
According to Adepoju’s comments to Hot Sports, “South Africa is a tough opponent. We defeated them in the AFCON 2023 semifinals, and even our women’s team overcame them in the Olympic qualifiers.”
Reflecting on the challenge posed by South Africa, Adepoju drew parallels to past strong adversaries like Cameroon and Ghana, emphasizing the need for the team to remain focused.
He added, “Every match against us is significant for the opposition. Our players must stay united and have faith that the entire nation is backing them.”