Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has outlined his targets for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
South Africa take on Super Eagles on Friday, 7 June at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. They host The Warriors on Tuesday, 11 June at Free Stadium in Bloemfontein.
This will be Bafana's first time playing in Bloemfontein since their 2010 World Cup match against France.
Broos is aiming for at least four points from these two crucial matches: a draw away in Nigeria and a win at home against Zimbabwe. He emphasised his desire to avoid defeat in both games.
What are Bafana Bafana targets for two upcoming matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe
“Let’s go to Nigeria and Zimbabwe, qualify for World Cup, everybody knows that everyone of us wants to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 but we are in front of two very tough games,” said Broos.
“First of all, Nigeria AFCON finalists, players who are playing in the best competitions in Europe. On the other side, we saw what we can do against them at AFCON, if we had a little bit of luck against them we would in the final and not Nigeria.
“I think we were the best team in the semifinals, we could have won that. So, we don’t have to be afraid.
“The other game against Zimbabwe is different. It’s a game between neighbours I think that Zimbabwe, after the ban, they have another team with another coach. So, from that side it will be a difficult game.
“But if you see our performances of the last six months, the game in Algeria, where we did a very good game. We have to be confident and we have to believe in our chances.
“And I know that some people say that, ‘against Algeria you received three goals’. But the two goals were of the individual mistakes. So for me, the three goals we conceded are not so important.
“The most important thing for me was that we brought a good performance against Algeria. So, that has to give us a confidence for us to achieve our goal, a goal to has to be at least four or six [points].
“I don’t want to lose any of those two games. I want to win one and I want to have a draw.
“That means four or six and we stay in the race for qualifying for the World Cup. And that has to be our goal for the next two games.”
Bafana Bafana’s current standing
Bafana currently sit second in the group with three points after two matches. They won one against Benin and lost away to Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Rwanda are top of the group with four points after two games and remain undefeated.
