Williams: Why Bafana strikers are ‘under-cooked’ for the World Cup

As Bafana Bafana intensify their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, legendary striker Mark Williams has raised a red flag regarding the team’s firepower.

South Africa finds itself in a challenging Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. While Hugo Broos has largely settled on his preferred personnel, Williams believes a glaring “experience gap” could be the nation’s undoing on the global stage.

Williams, the hero of the 1996 AFCON, argues that current target men Lyle Foster and Evidence Makgopa are victims of a system that fails to test them against the world’s elite.

Aside from a 5-0 drubbing by France in 2022, Bafana has spent much of the Broos era competing against COSAFA and regional rivals—territory Williams says does not prepare a striker for the rigours of a World Cup.

Mark Williams: Bafana Strikers Lacking the ‘Steel’ for World Cup Level

“Don’t tell me you play Botswana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Namibia, and you talk of experience,” Williams told FARPost. “Imagine if we were exposed to Argentina, Holland, England, or Germany. You want to test yourselves against such countries.”

Williams pointed out the financial hurdles in securing top-tier friendlies but insisted the lack of exposure is stalling the development of the frontline.

“We don’t know if Bafana are coming or going. Panama and Mexico are not the same. Argentina and Brazil have 90 per cent of their players abroad. Our strikers are not tested against big teams. In fact, the whole team lacks international experience.”

Consistency by the Numbers

The statistics this season lend weight to Williams’ concerns regarding consistency:

Lyle Foster (Burnley): 3 goals, 2 assists in 23 Premier League appearances.

Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates): 6 goals, 3 assists in 25 appearances.

For Williams, the solution is two-fold: better opposition and specialised coaching. “Why are clubs afraid of hiring striker coaches when we have goalkeeper coaches?” he questioned.

The Rayners Conundrum

The debate around squad selection has also intensified following the exclusion of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Iqraam Rayners. Despite chasing the Betway Premiership Golden Boot with 10 goals, Rayners was overlooked for the recent friendlies against Panama, with Broos opting to recall MLS-based Bongokuhle Hlongwane instead.

Williams feels the snub is counterproductive to the goal of building international experience.

“I like Makgopa, but I don’t see an improvement. Rayners hasn’t been given the opportunity, which is unfair,” Williams added. “Sundowns are the best team, and Rayners is there because he is scoring. If you don’t call him up, where is he going to get international experience?”

As the countdown to the World Cup begins, the pressure is on Foster and Makgopa to prove they can find their clinical edge—regardless of the badge on the opponent’s chest.