Oswin Appollis: Pirates Star Urges Bafana Bafana to Focus on Nigeria, Not World Cup Hype

• Orlando Pirates star Oswin Appollis has shared his thoughts ahead of Bafana Bafana's clash against Nigeria
• The Bafana Bafana winger led Hugo Broos' men to victory against Lesotho in their previous game, scoring one of the three goals
• The 24-year-old also reflected on playing under Broos since he made his debut for the South African national team

Orlando Pirates attacker Oswin Appollis says the dream of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup is beginning to take shape among South African players.

Bafana Bafana are preparing to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their next qualifier, scheduled for Tuesday in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Sea Robbers' summer signing from Polokwane City scored in Bafana Bafana's 3-0 win over Lesotho on Friday, a result that boosted South Africa’s position at the top of Group C.

Appollis on focusing on Nigeria's match

Appollis admits that while qualifying for the FIFA World Cup remains top of mind, the team is fully focused on the immediate challenge ahead, which is the match against Nigeria.

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"Of course, the World Cup finals are something we're all thinking about," the former Polokwane City player said.

"But this upcoming game is going to be really tough, and we can’t afford to look too far ahead. Right now, what matters most is figuring out how to succeed on Tuesday and overcome Nigeria."

Bafana Bafana come into the match in strong form, following their convincing victory over Lesotho. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles kept their slim hopes of topping the group alive with a narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda in Lagos on Saturday.

Despite their talent-packed squad, the Super Eagles have had a frustrating qualifying campaign and currently trail Bafana by six points in the standings.

Appollis acknowledged the challenge posed by Nigeria, praising the quality and experience within their ranks.

"We’re facing a Nigerian side filled with quality players, many of whom are based in Europe," he continued.

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"Some of them compete in top leagues like the Premier League and have won major trophies. For us as South Africans, it’s a huge motivation to test ourselves against teams of that calibre."

The Orlando Pirates forward also spoke highly of head coach Hugo Broos, highlighting not only his tactical leadership but also his character off the pitch.

"From the first day I met him, I could tell he was calm and reserved," Appollis added.

"But as I spent more time with the national team, I saw that he's not just a great coach, he's a genuinely good person. I think South Africans should appreciate having someone like Coach Hugo at the helm."

Favourite to win the South Africa vs Nigeria clash

Briefly News also reported that a Nigerian sports journalist has named the favourite to win the Bafana Bafana vs Super Eagles clash in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.

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The match is expected to be a close encounter, but one of the teams has been predicted to be the favourite to win the tie.

Source: Briefly News