Nigeria vs South Africa: Bafana Boss Broos Discusses Tactical Differences Between Finidi and Peseiro

• The Super Eagles of Nigeria will lock horns with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in round three of the FIFA qualification series
• The crunch fixture will be the first meeting between both teams since the crunch AFCON semi-final match-up in Ivory Coast
• South Africa coach, Hugo Broos, has highlighted differences between Finidi George’s tactics in comparison to Jose Peseiro

Round three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification fixture is on the horizon as the Super Eagles of Nigeria gear up to lock horns with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on June 7.

The fixture, which is poised to be coach Finidi George’s first match since his appointment, has continued to generate significant buzz across the country's footballing space.

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South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, has also been vocal and the Belgian septuagenarian recently touched on the qualities of the Nigerian team his charges will face.

The 72-year-old coach highlighted the differences in approach between the current coach, Finidi George, and his predecessor, Jose Peseiro.

Broos on differences between Finidi and Peseiro

In an interview reported by OwnGoalNigeria, the former Cameroon coach emphasised that he had been closely observing the playing style of Nigeria’s manager, Finidi.

Broos highlighted what he considers the primary difference between the current tactics of the Super Eagles and the approach taken at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

"It's a bit different from the team we faced in AFCON. With Finidi, they have a coach who thinks more about attacking. Peseiro was more defensive, as I saw in the game against us. He was always telling the team to fall back."

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Elaborating on the differences he has noticed, Broos continued:

"I have watched the two games against Ghana and Mali, and they are different now. They take more initiative. They’re no longer the team that falls back and waits."

South Africa and Nigeria currently sit second and third, respectively, in their Group C standings.

According to data from FotMob, both teams will also be looking to clinch their first victory in 90 minutes over each other since the Super Eagles' triumph at the 2019 edition of the AFCON in Egypt.

Finidi to retain Peseiro’s tactics

Sports Brief also previously reported that Nigeria’s coach, Finidi, outlined tactics of Peseiro he would retain for the clash against South Africa.

The Nigerian team has been training with the former Portuguese coach's 3-5-2 formation ahead of the meeting with Bafana Bafana on June 7.