Nigeria Under Pressure As Shabalala Vows To Help Bafana Bafana Qualify For World Cup

Nigeria Under Pressure As Shabalala Vows To Help Bafana Bafana Qualify For World Cup 

By Admin 

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers reach a pivotal stage, South African midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala has expressed his determination to help Bafana Bafana secure a historic return to football's biggest stage, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 21-year-old Kaizer Chiefs star is part of the South African squad gearing up for a high-stakes encounter against Nigeria’s Super Eagles. With both teams vying for the top spot in Group C, the upcoming matches could prove decisive in determining who earns the group’s sole automatic qualification ticket.

Speaking to local outlet Sowetan Live, Shabalala described the opportunity to represent his country on the global stage as a dream come true. “This is a big opportunity for me in my career. It’s everyone’s dream to play for their country, so I am here to help the team win the games to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

South Africa have not qualified for the World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010, and Shabalala is eager to play a key role in ending that 16-year absence.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles find themselves in a precarious position, having recorded just one win in their last six matches. The three-time African champions currently trail South Africa by six points and must secure back-to-back wins in their next two games to remain in contention.

The group standings are tightly contested. Rwanda and Benin Republic are currently joint-second with eight points each, while Lesotho follows with six. Zimbabwe sits at the bottom with four points.

South Africa’s qualification hopes could be complicated by disciplinary issues, as there are ongoing investigations into the possible fielding of an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho in March — a case that could result in a points deduction.

Nigeria will face Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo this Saturday, before traveling to meet South Africa at the Free State Stadium next week. Manager Eric Chelle, under mounting pressure, will be banking on a strong performance to keep Nigeria's qualification hopes alive.