Burnley FC forward Lyle Foster sends message to Nigeria ahead of crunch clash with Bafana Bafana in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier - 'I think pressure is on the guys who are trying to get to us'

South Africa forward Lyle Foster has stressed that Bafana Bafana are not under any pressure going into the 2026 World Cup qualifying showdown against Nigeria.

Bafana will host the West Africans for what is believed to be the group's toughest duel that also carries high stakes in the qualification process.

Foster, who was one of the scorers for Bafana against Lesotho in the last game, believes they are not under pressure, and instead, it is the Super Eagles who should feel the pressure.   

“I don’t necessarily think there’s pressure on us. I think at the moment we are where we are in the group, and that’s a positive. I think pressure is on the guys who are trying to get to us, but that doesn’t mean we should take our foot off the gas or take our foot off the pedal," Foster said, as per Safa.net.

“I think that we should just have the same mentality still and keep steady, keep playing game by game, stay humble and, just like I said, take the game as it comes. I don’t necessarily think there’s pressure," he added. 

"I think the pressure is on those who are trying to get to us. I think we’ve had a good start, but the most important thing is trying to push forward and make sure that we seal it.”

Ahead of the showdown in Bloemfontein, Bafana have an advantage from two perspectives. First, they lead Group C with a six-point gap separating them from the Super Eagles.

Secondly, the Nigerian camp was hit by an injury setback that is expected to rule out their star striker, Victor Osimhen. The former Napoli forward was injured in the first half during their match against Rwanda in Uyo. 

Both Nigeria and South Africa head into the midweek clash after winning their last games; the Super Eagles swept past Rwanda, while Bafana picked up a convincing victory against their neighbours, Lesotho.

This is not just a World Cup qualifier; it is a match pitting continental rivals. Given their status in Africa and historical clashes, Nigeria and South Africa have developed into continental rivals.   

Their rivalry extends beyond the pitch, given that their fans engage in heated online debates that sometimes even transcend football.

The game will be held at the Free State Stadium.