South Africa and Nigeria lock horns on Tuesday in a potentially decisive qualifying match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles are still in the hunt to claim the automatic place available to the winners of Group C in the CAF section, but defeat today to Bafana Bafana will almost certainly spell the end of those ambitions unless FIFA decides to punish the group leaders for fielding an ineligible player in earlier rounds.

These teams drew 1-1 when they met in Uyo back in June, and there’s likely to be little between them again given what’s at stake.

The Sporting News is following the South Africa vs. Nigeria match live, providing score updates and commentary

JUMP TO: Latest live updates | What teams need to qualify | Team news, lineups | Where to watch

South Africa vs. Nigeria score

  Score Goalscorers
South Africa 0  
Nigeria 0  

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein (South Africa)
Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)

Starting lineups:

South Africa (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Ronwen Williams (GK) — 18. Zuko Mdunyelwa, Mbokazi, 30. Siyabonga Ngezana, 26. Samukelo Kabini — 4. Teboho Mokoena, 15. Bathusi Aubaas — 23. Mohau Nkota, 17. Sipho Mbule, 7. Oswin Appollis — 9. Lyle Foster

Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Ola Aina (12. Bright Osayi-Samuel), 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Benjamin Fredrick — 4. Wilfred Ndidi, 14. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru — 7. Ademola Lookman, 17. Alex Iwobi, 15. Moses Simon — 19. Cyriel Dessers

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South Africa vs. Nigeria live updates, highlights, and commentary

22 mins: Rain is starting to fall heavily here. There’s a risk that lightning could cause disruption to this game. We’re carrying on as things stand.

19 mins: Big change, Bafana Bafana! Nigeria make a mess of things in their own box, and Oswin Appollis wrestles Osayi-Samuel off the ball. His shot under pressure is straight at Stanley Nwabali, who stands firm and parries. That’s a let-off for the Super Eagles.

10 mins: Benjamin Fredrick makes a good run through the middle of the park, but Moses Simon slices his attempted cross behind for a goal kick. The playing surface is cutting up quite badly here, and a few players have lost balance or miscued passes already.

8 mins: There’s a problem here for Ola Aina. He sat down near the touchline and is now receiving treatment, having appeared to hurt his right leg during a challenge from Samukele Kabini. It looks like the Nottingham Forest can’t continue. Bright Osayi-Samuel is on.

5 mins: South Africa have started on the front foot here. Mohau Nkota drifts into space behind Calvin Bassey, but his header is over the bar.

Kickoff: First half

Here we go!

30 mins before kickoff: Injuries at the back mean Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the only South Africa defender to start this game who was also in from kickoff against Lesotho at the weekend. But all eyes will be on Teboho Mokoena in the midfield. Mokoena selection against Lesotho in March, when he was supposed to be serving a suspensioin for yellow card accumulation, has thrown Bafana Bafana’s campaign into flux. A win here tonight should seal qualification but the prospect of a points deduction from FIFA looms.

50 mins before kickoff: Here’s how things look for the hosts.

1 hour before kickoff: The teams are in. Let’s start with the visitors. As expected, Victor Osimhen has not made it after suffering a bruised shin agaisnt Rwanda at the weekend. Panathinaikos forward Cyriel Dessers gets the nod to start in his place, with Saturday’s matchwinner Tolu Arokodare among the substitutes once more.

2 hours before kickoff: Welcome to today’s game from Bloemfontein, where two of Africa’s most storied international teams go head-to-head in World Cup qualifying. The result here could have huge implications for their respective chances of securing a place at the finals in 2026.

World Cup qualifying permutations: What do South Africa, Nigeria need?

South Africa can mathematically qualify for the World Cup if:

  • They beat Nigeria and Benin fail to beat Lesotho

However, because of the threat of possible docked points for fielding an ineligible player in a previous qualifier, we cannot state for certain that a win would ensure they qualify.

Nigeria cannot qualify today, but:

  • A win would mean they can still finish top of the group
  • A draw would mean they can still mathematically finish top, but only if South Africa lost their last two qualifiers or were deducted points, and Nigeria won their final two qualifying games
  • A defeat would mean Nigeria cannot finish top of the group unless South Africa are deducted points. Even then, they would need to win their final two qualifiers and hope Bafana Bafana lose theirs. 

South Africa vs. Nigeria kick off time

The match kicks off in Bloemfontein, South Africa at 6 p.m. local time.

Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:

  Date Kickoff time
USA/Canada Tue, Sep. 9 12:00 p.m. ET
USA/Canada Tue, Sep. 9 9:00 a.m. PT
UK Tue, Sep. 9 5:00 p.m. BST
Australia Wed, Sep. 10 2:00 a.m. AEST
India Tue, Sep. 9 9:30 p.m. IST

South Africa vs. Nigeria lineups, team news

South Africa know that a win here could be particularly important should FIFA decide to dock them points for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier qualifier, so a full-strength lineup is expected.

Nyiko Mobbie suffered a fractured eye socket after a nasty clash of heads early on against Lesotho and has been recovering from surgery. Thabiso Monyane was called up to the squad in his stead.

Thabo Moloisane went off in the second half with an injury concern and is only on the bench, with Samukele Kabini starting at left-back. Indeed, Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the only member of the back four that began the 3-0 win over Lesotho to start here. Burnley striker Lyle Foster continues to lead the line.

South Africa predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Williams (GK) — Mdunyelwa, Mbokazi, Ngezana, Kabini — Mokoena, Aubaas — Nkota, Mbule, Appollis — Foster

South Africa subs: Matchday squads released approx. one hour before kickoff

Chelle said straight after the Rwanda game that Victor Osimhen was “in pain” and that they would need to wait for the medical staff’s assessment. After the Nigerian Football Federation said the striker was absent from a special welcome event in Bloemfontein on Sunday, the official teamsheet confirmed he has not made the cut..

Despite Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare coming on to score the winner against Rwanda, Cyriel Dessers gets the nod to start at centre-forward.

William Troost-Ekong and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru return, while youngster Benjamin Fredrick is preferred to Bruno Onyemaechi at left-back.

Nigeria predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi — Ndidi, Dele-Bashiru — Lookman, Iwobi, Simon — Arokodare

Nigeria subs: Matchday squads released approx. one hour before kickoff

South Africa vs. Nigeria live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA ESPN Select, ESPN Deportes Fubo, ESPN+, FIFA+
Canada — FIFA+
UK — bet365
Australia — FIFA+
India — FIFA+
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