Bafana Bafana of South Africa coach, Hugo Broos has taken a veiled swipe at Nigerian football fans for thinking that his team will lose their last two matches in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, so that the Super Eagles can qualify.
Sports247 reports that the Dutch tactician also faulted permutations that Benin Republic or Rwanda can snatch the group’s lone ticket from his team’s grip, since all the contending countries will battle one another in their last two decisive matches.
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Broos, who previously handled the national teams of Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, further reasoned that Nigeria and Benin Republic will cancel each other out, while his team will celebrate another historic World Cup qualification … as they first did 24 years ago.
The veteran tactician further acknowledged that the recent deduction of three points from his team’s total haul slightly changed the group’s scenario, but quickly added that Bafana simply need to defeat Zimbabwe this Friday and then Rwanda for them to qualify.
He averred, “The situation is a little bit changed because of the deduction of three points, but that’s the only change. I just know the next two games will be historical …. because it’s 24 years ago that South Africa qualified for the World Cup.
“So, even when we were three points ahead, we knew we had to win our last two games for us to be mathematically sure that we’ll qualify. That is not a change for us.”
He then outlined plausible permutations and likely results from the last two matches for each country and concluded with a view that South Africa will end up on top, as they can reach 17 points by winning one match but Nigeria needs two games to equal that mark.
Broos expatiated, “Certainly, when you look at the next games, it’s impossible that four teams would each win their remaining two matches. Therefore, our game on Friday may be the most important for us.
“If we win that game, we’ll be on 17 points and, if Nigeria win their last two games, they can only have 17 points. Same thing with Rwanda.
“On the other hand, if Nigeria win their last two games, Benin cannot win their own two games – because the second one will be versus Nigeria.”
He ended with an emphatic prediction that Bafana Bafana would pick the group’s lone automatic ticket because all the players are staying fully focused on the task ahead, and they are determined to make history for their country.
“This game of Friday is so important for us to win it. There are no doubts about our winning it.
“There have never been doubts on my side about this group of players. I believe in the group, and I am sure that, on Friday, they will do everything to win that game,” Broos boasted.
