'We don't have to be afraid' - Hugo Broos explains why Bafana Bafana are confident before facing Super Eagles

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, manager Hugo Broos explained why Bafana Bafana are in confident mood before their 2026 World Cup qualifying match against the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Belgian football tactician believes that South Africa performed admirably in their last meeting against Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations and were unlucky to lose to the three -time African champions after failing short in the shootout. 

Broos is faced with a mini injury crisis before Friday's showdown in Uyo and it has to do with Mamelodi Sundowns players due to fixture congestion that saw them play many games over the course of the season. 

Key centre-back Grant Kekana has been forced to pull out of the squad due to injury, while there are doubts over the fitness of Khuliso Mudau, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Bathusi Aubaas and Ronwen Williams.

Broos has reiterated that getting at least four points from their two games this month is important to South Africa in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

He told reporters: "Everybody knows that everyone of us wants to go and wants to be qualified for the World Cup in 2026. We are in front of two very tough games.

"First of all Nigeria finalist AFCON, players who are playing in the best competitions in Europe. At the other side we saw also what we can do against them in the AFCON. 

"If we had a little bit luck on our side we were in the final and not Nigeria. We were the best team in the semifinals, we could have won that so we don't have to be afraid."

South Africa have fond memories of their last visit to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, beating the Super Eagles 2-0 thanks to goals from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau in an AFCON qualifier on June 10, 2017.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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