Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is relieved and has praised SAFA’s quick actions ahead of the team’s trip to Nigeria amidst ongoing protests.
An indefinite strike in Nigeria, which started on Monday, has shut down the country’s national power grid, adding another challenge to Bafana’s World Cup journey.
Bafana are set to play their third 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday against the Super Eagles in Uyo, southeastern Nigeria. The match will take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, kicking off at 21h00.
Reports say the strike is due to a disagreement with the government over a new minimum wage, which unions have been demanding since May 1. The Transmission Company of Nigeria confirmed the grid shutdown, highlighting the strike’s significant impact on the nation’s infrastructure and economy. Unions have vowed to continue their action until their demands are met, raising concerns about prolonged disruptions to essential services.
The strike has also cast a shadow over South Africa’s national football team, who are scheduled to travel to Uyo this week. South African officials remain optimistic about the team’s travel plans. Football authorities in both countries are closely monitoring the situation and exploring contingency plans should the strike continue to disrupt match preparations.
Instead of taking a commercial route, which would mean flying to Lagos via Kigali and then connecting to Uyo—a 12-hour trip—the team will depart on Wednesday via a private charter. Broos has applauded SAFA for this move, saying it shows they understand the importance of the fixture.
“I’m very happy, really. I’m very happy that we have a charter. The past few weeks, we looked at possibilities and options, but taking a regular flight was not an option. You’re in the air for 20 hours with waiting times and so on,” Broos said.
He believes the difficult travel arrangements may have contributed to Rwanda’s 2-0 loss. The game was played at the Stade Huye in Butare, in the southern province of Rwanda. Bafana flew to Kigali and then took a three-hour road trip to Butare.
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“Now we have a charter. You step on the plane, and six hours later, you’ve arrived…. I’m really happy, and I’d like to thank SAFA for the financial efforts they made. I know it’s not cheap. They understand the importance of the game and the importance of travelling in an easy way.”
South Africa has already played Benin and Rwanda in the 2026 qualifying campaign. They beat Benin in Durban before losing to Rwanda away. Bafana are currently second in Group C with three points, while Amavubi top the group with four points. The Super Eagles, whom Bafana met at the AFCON, are third in the group with two points. Bafana and the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw at the AFCON earlier this year. The match was settled after a penalty shootout.
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