South Africa’s Bafana Bafana midfielder Mohau Nkota has emphasised the importance of securing a full three points against Nigeria in their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, this Tuesday.
Riding high after a 3-0 triumph over Lesotho, Bafana Bafana currently tops Group C with 16 points from seven matches, boasting momentum from four consecutive wins against regional rivals including two victories over Lesotho’s Likuena, Benin, and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria arrives in Bloemfontein with renewed hope following a narrow 1-0 win against Rwanda, though they trail the group leaders with ten points from seven games. Nkota stressed, “We just have to continue where we left off against Lesotho. We must go all out for the three points to open the gap at the top and if we don’t get the win, we will take a draw and move on.”
The Super Eagles face the added challenge of missing star striker Victor Osimhen due to an ankle injury sustained in the Rwanda match, creating opportunities for players like Tolu Arokodare and Cyriel Dessers to step up. Despite this setback, Nigeria remain determined to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Nkota, who scored the opener against Lesotho, expressed readiness for the tough encounter, “It is going to be a difficult but exciting game against Nigeria because they have a lot of quality players. But if we work together as a team, we can succeed.”
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos also remains confident in his squad’s ability to handle the pressure and capitalise on home advantage as the race for World Cup qualification intensifies between these African football powerhouses.
