Preview: South Africa vs. Nigeria - prediction, team news, lineups

Nigeria’s diminishing 2026 World Cup hopes could face a decisive setback on Tuesday as the Super Eagles travel to South Africa for the Group C fixture at the Toyota Stadium.

With nine points remaining to be played for, Eric Chelle’s team trail Bafana Bafana by six points going into the matchday eight clash, heightening the significance of Tuesday’s game for the three-time African champions, who are at risk of missing successive finals.

Match preview

If Nigeria end Group C as winners when this is over, even the most optimistic fans would be astounded by any remarkable turnaround in fortunes.

The Super Eagles enter the seventh match of qualifying with 10 points out of a possible 21, having been let down by their string of draws (four), with the West African team’s only loss so far being their 2-1 defeat by Benin in June 2024.

The West African nation's inability to score decisive goals leaves them trailing Hubo Broos's team by six points, with no margin for error now.

Losing in Bloemfontein could mean the three-time African champions miss out on automatic qualification; however, even finishing second does not guarantee Chelle's team a spot as one of the four best runners-up in the African qualifying section.

As it stands, Benin sit one point ahead of third-placed Nigeria in Group C, but that tally falls significantly short of Gabon (18 points), Cameroon (15), Senegal (15) and Burkina Faso (14), the best-performing second-placed teams entering the eighth round.

Bafana Bafana aim to thwart the visiting nation's chances on Tuesday, with the top-ranked team five points ahead of Benin and six in front of Nigeria after seven matchdays.

That lead has been strengthened by Broos’s squad's perfect home record during qualification, with the 1996 African champions beating Benin, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho 2-1, 3-1, and 3-0, respectively.

These results boost the home supporters’ optimism that they can avoid defeat against the Super Eagles, having last been beaten by the West African nation as hosts in a friendly match in August 2013.

You would need to go back as far as September 2008 to find South Africa's last defeat in a competitive fixture on South African soil against Nigeria, with recent matches ending in draws.

With that knowledge, the home team should back themselves for an encouraging result on Tuesday, even if supporters in Bloemfontein will aim for maximum points to potentially secure World Cup qualification.

Having not qualified for the global tournament since hosting it in 2010, Bafana Bafana are clear favourites to qualify for a World Cup finals for the first time since reaching the 2002 tournament.

South Africa World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

South Africa form (all competitions):

Nigeria World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Nigeria form (all competitions):

Team News

Broos may be forced into two changes on the right side of their backline, with Nyiko Mobbie and Thabo Brendon Moloisane replaced due to injury after minutes six and 53 against Lesotho.

Lyle Foster scored and assisted in the 3-0 victory, bringing him to two goals and one assist, and the Burnley forward aims to add to his three contributions against the Super Eagles.

Victor Osimhen will be a big miss for the visitors after the Galatasaray man went off injured after 35 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda, leaving Nigeria without their talisman.

Given Tolu Arokodare’s match-winning exploits in that victory, Chelle has a decision to make between the new Wolverhampton Wanderers signing and Cyriel Dessers to replace the injured Osimhen.

Although an ineffective Frank Onyeka was replaced at the break in the aforementioned victory, it remains to be seen whether the Super Eagles boss starts Fisayo Dele-Bashiru or Raphael Onyedika in his diamond midfield.

South Africa possible starting lineup:

Williams; Mdunyelwa, Ndamane, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Mbatha; Nkota, Mbule, Appollis; Foster

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Nwabali; Aina, Fredrick, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyedika, Ndidi, Iwobi; Simon; Lookman, Arokodare

We say: South Africa 2-1 Nigeria

Although Nigeria are desperate for maximum points, not having Osimhen up front significantly limits the Super Eagles’ threat on Tuesday.

As a result of their talisman’s absence, combined with South Africa’s strength on home soil, Bafana Bafana are favoured to win this fixture and effectively secure World Cup qualification.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.