The Super Eagles' World Cup qualifying group has been hit with controversy as South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has slammed the decision to bar his team from holding a pre-match training session at the the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
Set to face Benin in Abidjan on Tuesday, South Africa were reportedly denied the opportunity to get a feel of the pitch on Monday, leaving Broos frustrated.
“I'm really not satisfied with the decision that we can't have a pre-match training in the stadium. I think it's a FIFA rule, every team has the right to have training before the game where the match takes place,” Broos fumed.
What result do Super Eagles need from Benin vs South Africa?
As the Super Eagles prepare to take on Zimbabwe, attention will also be on the crucial Benin vs. South Africa fixture, which could significantly impact the three-time African champions' qualification hopes.
South Africa currently leads Group C with 10 points from five games, followed by Benin with eight. Rwanda sits third with seven, while Nigeria, in fourth place with six points, remains in contention.
With Lesotho (five points) and Zimbabwe (three points) trailing behind, every result matters as the group nears its climax.
Ideally, the Super Eagles would benefit most from a draw between Benin and South Africa. Such a result would prevent either side from pulling too far ahead, keeping Nigeria within reach—especially as they are expected to secure three points against Zimbabwe.
Furthermore, with fixtures against both South Africa (away) and Benin (home) still to come later this year, Nigeria would have a strong chance to control their destiny in the race for World Cup qualification.
