Nigeria legend Ikpeba declares 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana ‘is the game of our lives’

Bafana and Nigeria are in Group C of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and will lock horns on June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

It is a crucial clash for both teams who dropped points in their respective matches in this qualifiers the last time out.

Ex-Super Eagles striker Victor Ikpeba describes how big the upcoming match is.

“The game against South Africa is the game of our lives,” Ikpeba said as per Naija News. 

“Finidi has the players having only recently reached the final of the Afcon, which was one of the toughest ever.

“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.”

Both South Africa and Nigeria have endured a shaky start to their Group C campaign.

Bafana are second on the table after kicking off with a home victory over Benin before losing to Rwanda away.

The Super Eagles were held 1-1 by Lesotho in their own backyard before another 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe.

Going into June’s fixture, the two sides might be reminded about their quarter-final meeting at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament where Nigeria prevailed on penalties.

Another notable match in recent years came in June 2017 when South Africa beat the West Africans 2-0 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, the venue of their upcoming game.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos has already named his preliminary squad for the Nigeria match and is expected to trim it to the final 23-man selection in the next few days.

But the Super Eagles coach Finidi George is yet to announce his squad.