Bafana Bafana on the brink of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but stiff Nigeria test lies in wait

South Africa are within touching distance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but an acid test awaits them as they prepare to face Nigeria.

Hugo Broos’ men made it four wins in a row as they beat neighbours Lesotho 3-0 at the Free State Stadium on Friday, courtesy of goals from Mohau Nkota, Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis.

Bafana opened up a five-point gap to Benin at the top of the group, although the threat of being docked points still looms after they fielded Teboho Mokoena in the reverse fixture against the Crocodiles.

Lesotho had threatened to protest if Bafana fielded Mokoena, who had been banned for the reverse fixture, but was available for this particular match.

Broos, the South African coach, admitted the situation around Mokoena added tension to the game in Bloemfontein, but praised his players for getting the job done.

Although Bafana are on the brink, Broos isn’t celebrating qualification just yet as a massive clash awaits his team at the same venue against Nigeria on Tuesday.

Here, GOAL looks at why South Africa stands a good chance of passing their traditional West African giants to take an even bigger step towards qualification.

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Mzansi in charge
Broos’ side took charge of the group when they dispatched neighbours Lesotho 3-0 in Bloemfontein to extend their gap.
Bafana have managed to rack up 16 points from seven matches and look poised to make it to the World Cup through automatic qualification.
Should Broos’ outfit manage to pull this off, it would be the first time since 2002, and the current crop of players will be determined to make it happen.

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Not resting on laurels
South Africans have been gripped with anxiety ever since reports emerged that Bafana Bafana could be stripped of three crucial points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March this year.
Bafana delivered a dominant performance, outclassing their neighbours with ease, but the celebrations were cut short when it was revealed that Teboho Mokoena, a midfield lynchpin, should have been serving a one-match suspension.
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The anxious wait on FIFA
South Africans have been gripped with anxiety ever since reports emerged that Bafana Bafana could be stripped of three crucial points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho.
Bafana delivered a dominant performance, outclassing their neighbours with ease, but the celebrations were cut short when it was revealed that Teboho Mokoena should have been serving a one-match suspension.
So far, there has been no new information regarding the consequences of that mistake from SAFA with FIFA yet to dock points from Bafana Bafana.
Should the football governing body decide to take points from South Africa, this could throw a spanner in the works and potentilally derail Bafana's qualification hopes.

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Don’t bottle it!
Bafana delivered a dominant performance, outclassing their neighbours with ease, but the celebrations were cut short when it was revealed that Mokoena should have been suspended.
There are three games to play, and Broos’ men are sitting top of Group C on 16 points, five clear of second-placed Rwanda.
The coach would have taken this scenario if it had been offered to him before the qualifiers started, but this is their reality now.
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No Osimhen
The good news for Bafana Bafana as they prepare to cement their position atop Group C of Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers by beating their main nemesis, Nigeria, on Tuesday, is that the Super Eagles could be without their top striker, Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen was injured in Saturday night’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo and has been left out of the West Africans’ travelling squad for the Matchday 8 clash at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
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Mzansi in charge

Not resting on laurels

The anxious wait on FIFA

Don’t bottle it!

No Osimhen

Dive Deeper