Nigeria, South Africa, and Benin brace for dramatic World Cup qualification finale

The race for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Group C of the African qualifiers reaches a thrilling conclusion Tuesday evening, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Benin all still in contention to secure a ticket to next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In what promises to be a decisive night of football, Nigeria host Benin in Uyo, while South Africa take on Rwanda in Mbombela. All three sides can still finish top of the group, making it one of the most unpredictable endings to the African qualifiers.

For Nigeria, the task is straightforward but far from easy. The Super Eagles, currently third in the group, must defeat Benin by at least two goals and hope that South Africa fail to beat Rwanda. Anything less than victory will end their hopes of automatic qualification.

With Benin on top of the group with a +5 goal difference, compared to Nigeria’s +3, a 2-0, 3-1, or 4-2 win for Eric Chelle’s side would see them move ahead on goal difference. A 1-0 win, however, would leave both teams level on points, goals scored, and goal difference, meaning FIFA’s tiebreakers, including head-to-head results, away goals, and fair play points, would come into play.

Benin, under coach Gernot Rohr, need only a draw to secure qualification. However, if they lose by more than a single goal, they would be overtaken by Nigeria, while a defeat by one goal could still leave them top, depending on South Africa’s result.

For South Africa, the equation is simpler but equally tense. A win over Rwanda will guarantee at least a top-two finish, regardless of events in Uyo. If Benin draw or lose, and Bafana Bafana win by at least two clear goals, Hugo Broos’ men will top the group and qualify directly for the World Cup.

Even in defeat, South Africa could still finish second if Nigeria fail to win, keeping their hopes alive of being one of Africa’s four best runners-up, who will contest a separate play-off round for a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs next March.

However, a draw would eliminate any chance of finishing top and could see South Africa miss out entirely if Nigeria claim all three points.

With only nine group winners advancing directly to the 2026 World Cup, tonight’s fixtures will determine which of these footballing nations continues the dream, and which must settle for a second chance through the play-offs.

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