‘There is no Nigerian in the team’ – Broos explains why South Africa should be proud 

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is delighted that there is not a big difference between South African players and Nigeria despite the Super Eagles having a squad full of foreign-based stars.

South Africa clashed with Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, when they played out a 1-1 draw, after William Troost-Ekong directed Mohau Nkota’s pass into his own net before Calvin Bassey headed the equaliser.

The Bafana Bafana starting XI had Al-Ettifaq’s Nkota, FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana and Burnley’s Lyle Foster as the only foreign-based players with the rest playing in the PSL.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s line-up had all but Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, playing in Europe, with four (Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Tolu Arokodare) plying their trade in the English Premier League.

However, the Bafana Bafana coach was impressed to see that his team still managed to contain the star-studded Super Eagles and believes South African football is at a good place but now needs to export more talent to Europe.

Broos impressed by levels of South African football

“The team of Nigeria, there is no Nigerian in the team. They all play abroad, in big teams like Atalanta, AC Milan, Fulham name it,” said Broos. “We don’t have it but you see it is not a disadvantage.”

“We have good players, we really have good players, and I hope what we have done with the national team hopefully, we will do in the future that those players get the occasion to go to Europe. Because that should help South African football,” he added.

Broos says Nigeria doesn't have any Nigerians. #BafanaBafana #WorldCupQualifier #Nigeria #SuperEagles pic.twitter.com/Hb82htF1ik

— AfricanFootball.com (@AfrFootball) September 9, 2025

Among players who Broos wants to see in Europe is young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who was named Man of the Match against Nigeria, having also had a starring role in the 3-0 thrashing of Lesotho last Friday.

“Mbokazi, this guy has to go to Europe, he’s 19 years old, you see the way he is playing, it’s like he has 10 years of experience at this level, it’s his second, third game with the national team – third game! You see how he’s playing,” Broos told the media after the match.

Which Bafana star has been tipped to play in Europe?

“So let’s hope that some players can do the next step here [move to Europe]. It will be very good for South African football really.”

Mbokazi’s Orlando Pirates team-mate Relebohile Mofokeng is another young talent that has been touted for a move to Europe although he did not make the jump this summer and seems not to have picked up form at the start of the 2025-26 season with Broos not using him in the two matches despite calling him up.

Bafana Bafana enjoy a six-point lead over Nigeria in their World Cup qualification journey and need four points from two matches to seal a direct ticket, while one win could be enough, during their matches away to Zimbabwe and at home to Rwanda in October.

The Super Eagles (on 11 points) will be hoping that the group leaders and second-placed Benin (14 points) falter for them to profit.