South Africa Favourites Against Zimbabwe As Nigeria’s Hopes Fade

Nigeria’s chances of overtaking South Africa in their World Cup qualifying group have taken a significant hit, as all signs point to a likely victory for the Bafana Bafana against Zimbabwe on Friday.

The Super Eagles currently trail South Africa by three points and must win their remaining fixtures to keep any hope of qualifying alive. However, their fate no longer rests solely in their hands. Even if Nigeria defeats Benin in their final game, they will still need other results, particularly from South Africa’s fixtures, to go their way.

Unfortunately for Nigeria, their southern rivals appear well positioned to extend their lead when they face Zimbabwe in Durban. The Warriors, who are bottom of the group, have nothing to play for and will be effectively playing away from home despite being the designated hosts for the match.

Zimbabwe Offer Little Resistance

Zimbabwe’s form and historical record against South Africa provide little optimism for Nigerian fans hoping for an upset. The Warriors have struggled throughout the qualifiers and are already out of contention for a World Cup spot.

Their performances against the Bafana Bafana have been particularly poor, with only one victory in their last ten meetings. That lone win came in 2013, and since then, South Africa have dominated the fixture, winning their last three encounters convincingly.

South Africa also secured a 3–1 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, and given the disparity in form, confidence, and motivation, another victory for Hugo Broos’ men looks highly likely. Zimbabwe, playing purely for pride, will need an exceptional performance to stop South Africa’s momentum.

The Warriors’ defensive frailties and lack of attacking consistency have been evident throughout the qualifiers, and they now face one of the continent’s most organised and confident teams. The match in Durban will be crucial for South Africa’s qualification push, and they are expected to approach it with full intensity.

Nigeria Must Win And Hope

While South Africa prepare to strengthen their grip on the group, the Super Eagles must focus on their own job. Eric Chelle’s men face Lesotho next, and a win is non-negotiable if they are to keep any pressure on both South Africa and Benin heading into the final round.

Nigeria’s inconsistent performances earlier in the campaign have put them in this difficult position, and they now rely on other teams to create an opening. The upcoming fixtures leave little margin for error, victory against Lesotho would keep their slim hopes alive, but even then, South Africa’s result against Zimbabwe could render it meaningless.

If Bafana Bafana secure maximum points on Friday, they will be in control of their destiny, while Nigeria’s qualification chances will hang on the final game, hoping Rwanda can do what Zimbabwe likely won’t.

With the Warriors showing little sign of resistance, it appears that South Africa’s march toward World Cup qualification will continue, leaving Nigeria’s hopes fading fast.