South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has stated that his team harbours no fear towards any African opponent as they prepare for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.
Bafana Bafana will play as guests of the Super Eagles of Nigeria on June 3 before hosting Zimbabwe a week later. With two matches honoured, the Broos-led team are placed second on the log trailing leaders Rwanda by a point while their June opponents, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are placed third and fifth, respectively, both with two points.
Since assuming office in 2021, Broos has made significant improvements to Bafana Bafana. The Belgian trainer has built the team primarily around home-based players, leading to considerable success.
This strategy culminated in Bafana Bafana securing a third-place finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024), achieved by defeating DR Congo after losing to Nigeria in the semi-finals.
Hugo Broos talks tough following Algeria draw
Following a thrilling 3-3 stalemate against Algeria, the 71-year-old expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance.
Speaking to the media, he remarked, ‘What a game! It was a fantastic game from both teams, but the performance of South Africa was really good.”
Broos continued, stating, “We played against a very strong team, but I do not think there was much difference between the quality of our game and the quality of the game in Algeria. That means we have progressed in the last few months. We already showed that in the AFCON, and we did it again against Algeria. So, I don’t think we have to be afraid anymore of playing against any team in Africa.”
It is worth noting that South Africa had earlier drawn 1-1 with Andorra.
Hugo Broos squashes Tunisia job rumours, affirms dedication to Bafana Bafana
Earlier this week, Broos dismissed reports linking him to the Tunisia job. Instead, he reaffirmed his ongoing commitment to Bafana Bafana.
“Why should I leave a good team such as you,” he said in a video shared on Bafana Bafana’s X page.
“There is no contact between me and the Tunisian federation. If I believe the Tunisian media, I am a candidate. If I leave South Africa, the federation will decide, for me, it's just rumours,” Broos stated in a separate interview, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“There’s no contact or discussion between me and Tunisia. It’s just the rumour. I’m one of the candidates according to Tunisian media, but it’s not official. I’m with Bafana Bafana in June. I depend on the federation [SAFA].”
Nigeria vs South Africa head-to-head
To the uninitiated, Nigeria and South Africa are so far apart on the map it boggles the mind that football games between the two generate so much passion.
Yet there is nothing contrived about the rivalry shared by these continental giants — spilling over from diplomatic tensions into the sporting arena and beyond, going all the way back to South Africa's apartheid days — and as they take on each other in June in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, there will be no shortage of intensity and hostility.
There have been a total of 15 previous meetings between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana, with the Super Eagles winning eight times, Bafana Bafana winning two, and five matches ending in draws.
Their first meeting was on October 10, 1992, in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, with Nigeria comfortably defeating South Africa 4-0.
Their last meeting was at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, with Nigeria emerging victors via penalty shootouts after the game ended 1-1.
Bafana Bafana aim to secure their ticket to the tournament in 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
