2026 FIFA WCQ: Ikpeba warns against complacency as Bafana announce squad for Super Eagles

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 36-member preliminary squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

The South African senior men’s national team face Nigeria’s Super Eagles away from home in Uyo on Friday, June 7, 2024, and then return to host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Bafana Bafana will return to Bloemfontein for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They last played in the city when they beat France 2-1 in the global FIFA tournament 14 years ago.

Meanwhile, former CAF Player of the Year Victor Ikpeba has warned the Super Eagles not to look down on South Africa

In recent years, whenever both teams' countries clash, it has always been a tough and interesting encounter. Both countries served up one of the best games of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they clashed in the semifinal of the competition.

The Super Eagles led for most of the tie. But the game took an interesting twist when Nigeria scored the second goal which was ruled out for a foul. Interestingly, that found happened to be in Nigeria’s box, which led to a penalty for South Africa. Teboho Mokena took no prisoners, as he converted. The Bafana Bafana had a late chance to score, but Nigeria held on to push it to shootouts. Eventually, Stanley Nwabali made two saves to see the Super Eagles through.

And ahead of the game, former Nigeria forward Ikpeba, who won the CAF Footballer of the Year Award in 1997 is expecting a spectacular. He believes the Super Eagles would have to put in extra to emerge on top.

“The game against South Africa is the game of our lives,” Ikpeba said on Supersports.

“Finidi has the players having only recently reached the final of the AFCON, which was one of the toughest ever and the boys know what is at stake.

 “They have to be focused and make the necessary sacrifices to ensure they beat South Africa. It won’t be easy, but it can be done.”

Elsewhere, Chadian official, Alhadi Allaou Mahamat will be in the center when the Super Eagles host South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo next month.

Mahamat will work with Sudanese official Mohammed Ibrahim Abdallah (assistant referee 1), Abelmiro Dos Reis Monte Negro from Sao Tome & Principe (assistant referee 2), and compatriot Pousri Armi Alfred (fourth official) at the encounter that will commence at 8 pm Nigeria time on Friday, 7th June.

Ahmed Sayed Abou Elela from Egypt will serve as the referee assessor while Ghanaian Munkaila Nassam Adam will be the commissioner for the Day 3 clash.

CAF has also appointed Ethiopian official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, 43, as the referee for the Day 4 encounter between the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan. That match will kick off at 4 pm CIV time (5 pm Nigeria) on Monday, 10th June.

An icon of refereeing on the African continent, Bamlak Weyesa will work with compatriots Temesgin Samuel Atango (assistant referee 1), Tigle Gizaw Belachew (assistant referee 2) and Tewodros Mitiku (fourth official). Djamel Haimoudi from Algeria will be the referee assessor while David Yameogo from Burkina Faso will serve as the commissioner, and Ivorian Claude Elloh will work as security officer.