South Africa take on Nigeria in Bloemfontein in one of the most anticipated clashes in the World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana top the group with 16 points, while Nigeria sit third on 10 points. With only three games remaining, South Africa can edge closer to their first World Cup since 2010, while Nigeria face a must-win scenario to keep their hopes alive.
Match details
- Venue: Free State Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
- Kick-off: Tuesday, September 9 – 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CAT
- How to Watch: SSC, SuperSport, L’Equipe
If you’re planning to stream the match live, make sure to choose a reliable platform that offers seamless viewing and real-time updates. You can also watch on Stake, where fans can catch live sports action and enjoy an engaging viewing experience.
South Africa’s momentum
- 16 points from 7 matches
- Unbeaten in all three home qualifiers
- Latest result: 3-0 win over Lesotho
- Key player: Lyle Foster, Burnley striker, 2 goals & 1 assist
Coach Hugo Broos may reshuffle his defence following injuries to Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Brendon Moloisane.
Nigeria under pressure
- Only two wins in five matches against Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda
- Key absence: Victor Osimhen (injury)
- Score 8 and conceded 6 goals in 7 games
- Coach Eric Chelle faces selection dilemmas in attack and midfield
Despite a slight historical edge in the rivalry — Nigeria have won 8 of 16 encounters — recent meetings have been tight. Four of the last five encounters ended 1-1, including the tense AFCON 2023 semi-final.
Head-to-head (last 7)
- Nigeria wins: 2
- South Africa wins: 1
- Draws: 4
Probable lineups
- South Africa (4-2-3-1): Williams – Monyane, Ndamane, Mbokazi, Modiba – Mbatha, Mokoena – Appollis, Mbule, Nkota – Foster
- Nigeria (4-4-2): Nwabali – Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi – Ndidi, Onyedika, Iwobi – Lookman – Simon, Arokodare
Score Prediction
South Africa are solid at home, while Nigeria have struggled for consistency. Safest calls: South Africa to win or draw, under 3 goals, and a likely 1-0 or 1-1 scoreline.
