Bafana Bafana team against Andorra in Anabba, Algeria. Image: @bafanabafana/X.
Nigeria vs Bafana Bafana: When is the World Cup qualifier?
Another date with the Super Eagles.
Bafana Bafana team against Andorra in Anabba, Algeria. Image: @bafanabafana/X.
Bafana Bafana doesn’t have long to wait until an Afcon reunion with Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Here’s all the key World Cup qualifier info.
Bafana Bafana meet Nigeria in a crunch World Cup qualifier
South Africa and the Super Eagles will clash on Friday 07 June in Uyo, Nigeria with kickoff at 21:00. Bafana have three points heading into this MD3 qualifier after a defeat to Rwanda and a win over Benin.
Strange striking decisions
The major talking point after Hugo Broos named his 23-man squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria (07 June) and Zimbabwe (11 June) was the omission of Tshegofatso Mabasa. The Orlando Pirates man scored 16 goals in the DStv Premiership and won the Golden Boot. Broos preferred his clubmate Evidence Makgopa in the preliminary group, and that was also the case in Pirates’ recent Nedbank Cup final win over Sundowns. Bucs head coach Jose Riveiro opted for the most physical, channel-running approach of Makgopa. It paid dividends. 23-year-old Makgopa was a key component of the Bafana side which won bronze at Afcon 2023. However, he hasn’t made the final squad here. Bafana’s attackers are Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners, Percy Tau, Oswin Appollis, Elias Mokwana, Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Lyle Foster.
Bafana boss sends warning to Relebohile Mofokeng
The hype train around 19-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng has gone into overdrive this week after his winning goal in the Nedbank Cup final against Sundowns. The teenager is also set for his national team debut against Nigeria. Hugo Broos has urged calm.
“You see what happened with Mailula? He came into Toronto, and there were two former Italian internationals, and what are you going to do with a little guy from South Africa there? He did play one game two months ago and the rest he’s on the bench. What is he learning there? I hope the agent of Mofokeng is cleaver more than the one of Mailula.” said Broos as per FARPost.
Draw specialists
South Africa have drawn their last five matches (inside 90 minutes and including friendlies) and that also stretches to six of their last seven. Broos has turned this team into a tough nut to crack, but old issues of failing to put games away are still plaguing them.
Squad reminder
In case you missed it, here’s the 23-man group tackling two key World Cup qualifiers.
Will Bafana exact revenge against Nigeria?
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