The Super Eagles are gearing up for a critical phase in their quest for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with key qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa scheduled for early September.
The Super Eagles will first face Rwanda’s Amavubi on Saturday, September 6, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
They will then head to South Africa for an important match against Bafana Bafana on Tuesday, September 9.
This match will take place at the 46,000-seat Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, with kick-off set for 5 pm Nigerian time (6 pm South African time), as confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The encounter in Bloemfontein, formerly known as Vodacom Park and Free State Stadium, is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the qualification race for Africa’s Group C.
This venue holds historical importance, having been one of the sites for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
With only the top team from each group guaranteed a spot in the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the pressure is on Nigeria.
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Coach Eric Chelle’s squad has managed only one victory in their first four group matches, making the upcoming double-header crucial for the Super Eagles to maintain their qualification hopes.
Their opponents, South Africa, led by the confident coach Hugo Boss, currently sit at the top of the group with 13 points from six matches, six points ahead of the Super Eagles.
A victory for Bafana Bafana would eliminate Nigeria’s chances of finishing first in World Cup qualifying Group C.
However, South Africa faces the possibility of a three-point deduction due to an administrative error.
Nigeria missed out on the last World Cup after losing to Ghana’s Black Stars in the final playoff round.
If they fail to qualify for the 2026 tournament, it will mark the first time the Super Eagles have missed consecutive World Cups since their debut in 1994.
