'We know about them, they know about us' - Hugo Broos predicts Finidi will make changes v Bafana Bafana 

South Africa coach Hugo Broos expects Finidi George to make changes for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday evening.

 Of the twenty-three players the Ajax Amsterdam legend summoned for the June internationals, seven started the semfinal clash against Bafana Bafana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, namely Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman.

Broos believes that Finidi has a different playing philosophy compared to his predecessor Jose Peseiro who was accused of using a  defensive strategy in all but one of the matches contested by the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Nigeria and South Africa have had sluggish starts to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with the Super Eagles yet to taste victory after two matches while their opponents on Friday were humiliated by minnows Rwanda. 

Sharing his thoughts on how he will approach the game against Nigeria, Broos insisted that Bafana Bafana are not thinking about revenge. 

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he told reporters: "We just want to have a great result against Nigeria because it's the qualifier for the World Cup. We don't think about revenge. It's a totally different game, we play for qualifiers for the World Cup and you know losing the game should not really be a disaster because after those two games we have six games to play but I rather not to have a defeat in Nigeria.

"We all know about them but they know all about us also. I think they will not start the game with the same mentality that they did for AFCON. 

"They know now how strong we are and we have to that also. We have to use our status being third in AFCON but we have to stay humble also.

"We still have to work, we still have to fight and we still need the same mentality that we had in AFCON, but it's different how we approach the game, certainly from the Nigeria side but also they have changes. 

"They have a new coach, they play a little bit different also than AFCON so it's up to us to do the same thing what we did in AFCON but now with the victory."

Broos will be hoping history does not repeat itself. In his last visit to Uyo, the Super Eagles thrashed Cameroon 4-0 with the Belgian in the Indomitable Lions dugout.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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