‘The pressure is on Nigeria’ – Hugo Broos and Percy Tau gear up for Super Eagles showdown

Published on by Andrew Randa

Head coach of South Africa's senior men's national team, Hugo Broos, and striker Percy Tau have expressed their readiness to face Nigeria's Super Eagles in a highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The match is set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, with Bafana Bafana hopeful of a decent result against the Super Eagles

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Broos conveyed confidence in his team's preparedness.

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Photo by Icon Sport

“I think that we are ready for this game, surely, otherwise, we shouldn't be here…we are confident and we believe that we can get a good result tomorrow.”

Acknowledging the challenge ahead, Broos highlighted the strength of the Nigerian squad, who finished as runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“We know that Nigeria is a very good team. We played against them at the AFCON, but as I remember, I think the result would have been opposite…that means that both teams are very good…the pressure is on Nigeria.

“The pressure is a little bit on Nigeria because they have to win the game; you can't lose points at home so the pressure is a little bit on them.”

He expressed his belief in his team's ability to perform, drawing from their impressive performance against Algeria in March.

“We have the belief and confidence. We played a very good game in March against Algeria, which means that we can go on the level we had in AFCON.”

Bafana Bafana confirmed lineup vs DR Congo
Grant Kekana tackles Terem Moffi – Photo by Icon Sport

Reflecting on the team's journey since AFCON, Broos emphasised their growth and readiness.

“Life is never easy, you know. The game of AFCON was something for us, it was a very good game, but the game is finished. Tomorrow is another game.”

Broos also reassured fans about the fitness of his squad: “About the injuries we have, everyone is 100 percent fit tomorrow, so we don't have a problem tomorrow.”

He continued, emphasising the newfound confidence in the team: “As I said already, games which are done are done. Tomorrow is another game, it's a new game. We have confidence because since AFCON, I think that everyone in South Africa is starting to believe in the team because the results were so good.

So we start the game tomorrow with Nigeria with a lot of confidence,” Broos added

On his part, Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau, who scored at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in a 2-0 win over the Super Eagles back in 2017, shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming match.

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Percy Tau of South Africa – Photo by Icon Sport

“I am looking forward to the game tomorrow; of course, it will be a different game. I don't think history will play a role. It will be how well the teams are tomorrow, but as South Africa, we are looking forward to the game.”

Tau, who recently won the CAF Champions League with Al Ahly, added, “We are an experienced team, and the focus is on how well we can play tomorrow.”

The highly anticipated clash between Nigeria and South Africa kicks off at 8 pm Nigerian time at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

‘The pressure is on Nigeria’ – Hugo Broos and Percy Tau gear up for Super Eagles showdown

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)