The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has arrived in Bloemfontein, South Africa, ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Bafana Bafana on Tuesday. The team, led by head coach Eric Chelle, landed at the Bloemfontein Airport on Sunday evening after a chartered flight from Luanda, Angola, where they had stopped to refuel.
Upon arrival, the Super Eagles received a warm welcome from Nigerian officials and supporters, including Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Tope Ajayi, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye. The Nigerian community in South Africa also turned out in impressive numbers, showcasing their culture with traditional attire, singing, and dancing.
The team’s arrival in Bloemfontein comes ahead of a critical match in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. South Africa currently leads the standings with 16 points from seven matches, while Nigeria sits third with 10 points. A victory for the Super Eagles on Tuesday would revive their qualification hopes and put them back in contention for an automatic spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, the team will be without star striker Victor Osimhen, who was ruled out due to a chin bruise suffered during Friday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda. This creates a selection dilemma for Coach Chelle, who must decide between Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, and Samuel Chukwueze to lead the line. Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon are expected to play crucial roles on the flanks, while Alex Iwobi could be deployed further forward to add creativity.
The stakes are high in Group C, and the Super Eagles will need to improve their efficiency in front of goal if they are to secure a victory. The team will hold an official training session at the Toyota Stadium on Monday evening, where Coach Chelle will fine-tune his tactics. The match against Bafana Bafana kicks off at 6 p.m. Nigerian time on Tuesday at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. The last time the two sides met in Bloemfontein during a competitive fixture, Nigeria secured a 2-1 win in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.