The upcoming clash between South Africa and Nigeria is a key matchup in CAF Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. South Africa vs Nigeria is a highly anticipated game that will take place at the Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
South Africa currently leads the group with 16 points after seven matches, maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last five games.
Nigeria, meanwhile, are in third place with 10 points and will be desperate for a win to boost their qualification chances. The Super Eagles come into this match without their talisman, Victor Osimhen, who suffered an injury against Rwanda. This puts added responsibility on other forwards to deliver, with coach Eric Chelle expected to rely on Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Arokodare to lead the charge.
Match Details
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CAF, Group C)
Date: Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Kickoff Time: 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT)
Venue: Free State Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
TV & Streaming: NTA Sports 24, Startimes Nigeria, Sporty TV, SuperSport Grandstand, SuperSport 14 Africa
Head-to-Head (H2H) Record
The rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria has been fierce over the years, often producing tight and dramatic encounters. While Nigeria has historically dominated this fixture. In fact, four of the five encounters between Nigeria vs South Africa have ended in draws, highlighting just how evenly matched they have become.
Last 5 Meetings:
June 2024: Nigeria 1–1 South Africa (World Cup Qualifier)
February 2024: Nigeria 1–1 South Africa (AFCON Semifinal – Nigeria advanced on penalties)
July 2019: Nigeria 2–1 South Africa (AFCON Quarterfinal)
November 2018: South Africa 1–1 Nigeria (AFCON Qualifier)
June 2017: Nigeria 0–2 South Africa (AFCON Qualifier)
Overall Record: South Africa – 1 win | Draws – 5 | Nigeria – 2 wins
South Africa Team News
Hugo Broos’ team is performing exceptionally well and currently leads the group. In their most recent match against Lesotho, they faced an early setback when Nyiko Mobbie had to be substituted due to a head injury, with Zuko Mdunyelwa coming on in his place. Despite this challenge, South Africa regained their momentum, and Mohau Nkota scored his first senior goal, assisted by an Aubrey Modiba cross.
Nigeria Team News
Nigeria will miss star striker Victor Osimhen, who was forced off against Rwanda with a shin injury. However, Arokodare, who came off the bench to score the winning goal, is expected to start this time and lead the line. Cyriel Dessers remains another option for Eric Chelle, but Arokodare’s impact against Rwanda gives him the edge.
Key Players to Watch
South Africa:
- Lyle Foster: The striker’s finishing ability and physicality make him the focal point of South Africa’s attack.
- Mohau Nkota: After scoring his debut goal, he will look to build on that confidence against Nigeria.
Nigeria
- Arokodare: Expected to start in place of Osimhen, he will aim to replicate his goal-scoring impact from the last game.
- Ademola Lookman: His direct play and eye for goal will be crucial for Nigeria’s attacking threat.
- Alex Iwobi: Operating as a playmaker, his creativity will be vital in breaking down South Africa’s defense.
South Africa Predicted Lineups
South Africa will likely stick with their current setup after their strong display in recent games, with Foster leading the line and Nkota providing width on the right.
South Africa (4-2-3-1):
GK: Ronwen Williams
RB: Zuko Mdunyelwa
CB: Grant Kekana
CB: Mothobi Mvala
LB: Aubrey Modiba
CDM: Sphephelo Sithole
CM: Teboho Mokoena
RW: Mohau Nkota
CAM: Themba Zwane
LW: Thapelo Maseko
ST: Lyle Foster
Nigeria Predicted Lineups
Nigeria are expected to maintain a similar formation to the one that secured victory against Rwanda, but with a key change in attack. With Osimhen injured, Arokodare, who scored the decisive goal against Rwanda, is set to lead the line for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria (4-2-3-1):
GK: Stanley Nwabali
RB: Ola Aina
CB: William Troost-Ekong
CB: Calvin Bassey
LB: Benjamin Fredrick
CDM: Wilfred Ndidi
CM: Frank Onyeka
RW: Samuel Chukwueze
CAM: Alex Iwobi
LW: Moses Simon
ST: Arokodare
Stats to Watch
- South Africa are unbeaten in their last five qualifiers and have scored 13 goals, the most in the group.
- Nigeria has drawn four of their seven matches, showing inconsistency in finishing games strongly.
- Nigeria’s defense has conceded only 6 goals, while South Africa has conceded 5, making this a clash of strong backlines.
- The last five meetings produced four draws, underlining the close nature of this rivalry.
See Also:
Predictions
This game is set to be intense, with both sides bringing strong form into the encounter. South Africa has the advantage of playing at home and entering as group leaders, but Nigeria’s resilience and hunger for points could see them push for all three. The inclusion of Arokodare, who scored in the last game, adds freshness to Nigeria’s attack. With Lookman and Simon providing width and creativity, the Super Eagles have the tools to unlock South Africa’s defense.
Predicted Score: South Africa 0–2 Nigeria
Betting Tips
- Nigeria to Win: The Super Eagles are expected to bounce back strongly despite missing Osimhen.
- Under 2.5 Goals: Both sides have been defensively solid, suggesting a low-scoring match.
- Anytime Goalscorer: Arokodare to score again after his goal against Rwanda.
The South Africa vs Nigeria World Cup Qualifier promises to be a thrilling contest. South Africa will look to extend their unbeaten run and strengthen their grip on the group, while Nigeria will aim to keep their qualification hopes alive with a statement victory. With Osimhen sidelined, the spotlight falls on Arokodare and Lookman to deliver.
A win here would not only boost Nigeria’s points tally but also restore belief in their ability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
