Former Orlando Pirates star warns Bafana Bafana against fearing Nigeria during the do-or-die qualifier - 'If South Africa are intimidated by Super Eagles, what will we do at the World Cup?'

Former Orlando Pirates star Thabo Mngomeni has warned Bafana Bafana against fearing their 2026 World Cup qualifying rivals, Nigeria.

The retired Bafana star has said there will be no point for South Africans to fear the Super Eagles because if they qualify for the finals, they will face better teams than Nigeria.

“Bafana players can't let themselves be intimidated by Nigeria playing at home in South Africa," Mngomeni told KickOff.

"If that's the case, what will we do at the World Cup next year against big nations? At this stage of their careers, they can't afford to be intimidated," he added.

To win, Bafana have been told to exploit weakness in the Nigerian backline. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been struggling at Chippa United, and this is an advantage South Africa can easily exploit, according to Mngomeni.

“They must attack Nigeria. It comes down to motivation. Believe in yourselves. I don't want to think about losing tomorrow because it could be the end for us," Mngomeni added.

"We really need this win; it will set us on the right path. Losing will be devastating for me. Even a draw won’t help us. We need a win," he stated.

“The players shouldn’t feel intimidated by Nwabali. Look where Chippa are on the log table – at the bottom. If Bafana players are seeking motivation, they should remember that Nwabali is the same goalkeeper they score against week in and week out in the PSL."

This is considered the toughest game of Group C, given the profiles of the countries involved. Both are former African Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions and have established themselves as top continental rivals.

They go into the Tuesday game after winning their last qualifiers; Nigeria collected maximum points following a 1-0 victory over Rwanda, while Bafana outclassed Lesotho by a 3-0 margin.

However, Bafana, top of the group with 16 points, have an advantage given that a six-point gap separates them from third-placed Nigeria.

The highly anticipated duel will be held at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

This is the last qualifier in September before the final rounds in October.