Nwabali says South Africa not on same level as Nigeria

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has said that South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are not on the same level as the Super Eagles. 

Nigeria and South Africa will lock horns on Friday, June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in their 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Earlier this year, both teams met in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles needing a penalty shootout to advance to the final. 

However, despite how tough the Bafana Bafana may be, Nwabali, who plays club football for Chippa United in the South African Premiership, believes they are nowhere near the Super Eagles team.

Speaking to Lagos Talks on 91.3 FM, Nwabali was questioned about how tough the match versus South Africa would be.

He said, “Football is the same everywhere, but I don’t feel with the kind of players we have, we can have any challenge in any game, especially in our group. But you cannot predict football.

“Talking about South African players, I would say I know them. We have good players in our country too, so I’m not talking about those guys, they are good in their own way of playing.

“I’m not talking about them because if we can put ourselves together, they cannot match us.”