Will the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup or not?
Today, the team will begin the quest to answer this major poser when they battle Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa.
Kick-off time is 5pm, which is also the time the two other Group C matches will begin – Rwanda vs Benin and Zimbabwe vs South Africa.
Benin are now top of the standings on 14 points from eight matches after FIFA docked three points and three goals from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifier in March against Lesotho.
The Cheetahs of Benin, who are handled by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, now face two difficult away games in the final rounds of matches.
Today, they will be guests of Rwanda, who are fourth on the table with 11 points, before they fly down to Uyo for a final showdown against the Super Eagles.
South Africa are second also with 14 points, but with an inferior goals’ difference of +2.
Coach Hugo Broos has insisted that not much has changed for his team despite the loss of those precious points and goals and that his target remains to beat both Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final matches for Bafana Bafana to feature at the World Cup after a long absence.
For the Super Eagles, the target is to beat both Lesotho and Benin, while at the same time hoping South Africa drop points against both Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
It could well be a nail-biting finish to this qualifying group with the fans of the Super Eagles still positive that their team can turn the tables despite a rather poor start to their campaign that saw them fail to beat both Lesotho and South Africa at home before they were shocked by Benin 2-1.
