HUGO Broos, coach of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, declared he would resign if Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 World Cup ahead of his team.
The once-mighty Super Eagles, a footballing giant in Africa, now teeter on the brink of humiliation. With just 3 points from 4 games, Nigeria faces an unthinkable reality: missing out on the 2026 World Cup. This is not just a football crisis—it’s a national disgrace.
Rwanda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the Benin Republic— teams that once trembled at the sound of Nigeria’s name — now stand as roadblocks. Yet, this is not beyond redemption. With two crucial games in March 2025 against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Nigeria has the chance to reignite its pride.
The Bafana Bafana currently sit second in Group C with seven points, trailing leaders Rwanda only on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles sit in a disappointing fifth place with three points, four behind South Africa, with six games left in the qualifying series.
Broos, whose side topped Group K in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for Morocco 2025, believes South Africa’s recent form gives them the edge.
In three years as the coach, Broos has revived the status of South Africa’s men’s team as a top force in Africa, leading them to two consecutive AFCON and also to the semi-final for the first time since 2020.
72-year-old Broos has seen his team lose just one game this year in open play, and that was the AFCON opener defeat to Mali. His team qualified for the AFCON with two games to spare in a group that has Uganda, South Sudan and Congo.
His next target is the World Cup qualifiers, which resumes in March. South Africa are currently second in their group behind shock leaders Rwanda on goal difference, with the Benin Republic also on the same amount of points in third place.
Hot favourites Nigeria are 5th in the six-team group, four points behind the aforementioned trio, and Broos feels his team is in a position where if they fail to make it to the tournament, then he will quit his role.
“You know I’m not stupid; I knew we would qualify [for AFCON]”, he said.
“I said [if we don’t qualify for 2026 World Cup I would leave too], but if you compare the team from two years ago and the team now, there’s a difference of day and night in everything.
“In quality, in power, in results, in whatever you say – there’s a big difference, and we worked on it to make this team; it was not easy‘, he said.
“Certainly in the beginning, nobody understood what I was doing, young players, no players from Chiefs, what is that? Nothing was good. Now we are where we are, and everyone is proud of Bafana Bafana at the moment” he stated.
Eighteen-Eleven Media