There are many variables when it comes to the long-term success of a football team, and with Nigeria and Bafana Bafana set for another crucial encounter, the former are better positioned over the short and longer term, writes Junaid Benjamin.
The Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana are set to face off for the first time since their semi-final meeting at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where then-manager Jose Peseiro led the Nigerians to victory after a tense penalty shootout. Their next meeting will be a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday night, and it can be argued the north African giants already have the upper hand.
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The Super Eagles are also arguably in a better position to achieve success over a longer period of time. After coming so close to a continental triumph earlier this year, they will be motivated to ensure they can go all the way when the 2025 edition of the tournament comes around, and are well equipped to do so.
Firstly, they have crucial interest from political figures who want to see their team qualify for the World Cup that will take place in United States, Mexico, and Canada. Football has a unique way of uniting groups of people from different backgrounds and this becomes a powerful tool in the grand scheme of things as it could very well lead to more interest and investment in the side at all levels.
In South Africa, many people feel that the Springboks – the country's national rugby side – get much more support than their footballing brothers, as perhaps evidenced by a public holiday being given to the country after the side won a second consecutive Rugby World Cup title. One cannot help but feel that Bafana did not receive anywhere near the same hype when they reached the AFCON semi-finals.
An example of this desire to see their team succeed and achieve success was displayed by Nigeria's minister of sports John Enoh, who emphasised the importance of the country's president at the next global tournament after missing out on qualifying for the 2022 edition.
"The FIFA World Cup is the biggest showpiece in football," he said, per Naija News. "We cannot afford to miss out on the World Cup again. The disappointment of missing the last tournament, especially after the disappointing home match against the Black Stars, must drive us to ensure we qualify this time."
He then went on to "urge the [Nigerian] players to get the job done in the first half of the game [against Bafana] by scoring early goals, so they are not under pressure in the second half".
Then there is also the case of the Super Eagles having a larger quantity of players plying their trade in more competitive environments. For example, Bayer Leverkusen attackers Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella were part of the side that went undefeated in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign and won the DFB-Pokal, and also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they suffered their first and only defeat of the season.
Then there's Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, who, in what will always be remembered as an iconic memory in the Serie A club's history, scored a hat-trick in the UEL final, coincidentally against Leverkusen.
These are only three examples of the talent in the Nigerian squad. They also possess the firing power of Victor Osimhen, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, who will both likely be competing in the Premier League next season, along with Kelechi Iheanacho.
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Another notable name playing for a high-level club is Samuel Chukwueze, who represents Italian giants AC Milan. Considering these players will still be around for the foreseeable future and the Super Eagles being three-time AFCON winners, the side has a great foundation of success from which to build. Hopefully, South Africa can follow suit at some point in the future.
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