World Cup (Q): Broos says South Africa deserves to go to World Cup

South Africa national team head coach Hugo Broos has maintained that his Bafana Bafana side have done everything to deserve a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana are currently sitting second in Group C of the African qualifiers with 14 points, the same number as leaders Benin. However, South Africa should be sitting at the top but they were deducted three points by FIFA.

South Africa faced the FIFA wrath after fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on March 21, despite the 28-year-old being on a one-match suspension for accumulating two yellow cards.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee declared the match to have been forfeited by South Africa by a score of 3-0, while Mokoena was issued with a warning. FIFA further fined the South African Football Association (SAFA) 10,000 Swiss Francs (about 12,540 U.S. dollars).

South Africa will do everything to beat Zimbabwe

Speaking ahead of their upcoming qualifiers, the Belgian coach stressed the importance of winning their matches.

“There are no doubts, there have never been any doubts from my side, and I will try to transfer this to the players at a meeting we will have on Tuesday,” Broos said as quoted by SAFA website.

“I believe in this group and I am sure that they will do everything in their power to win that game on Friday. Why should we doubt ourselves now after our performances in the qualifiers? If there is a team that deserves to go to the World Cup, it is South Africa.”

Relebohile Mofokeng leaves camp due to injury

The team assembled in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, on Monday ahead of their away fixture against Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday.

They will wrap up their qualifying campaign when they host Rwanda in the last qualifier at the Mbombela Stadium, in Mpumalanga, on Tuesday, 14 October 2025. Both matches will be played at 18h00.

On Monday, Broos was forced to make changes to his squad, Relebohile Mofokeng being withdrawn due to injury and Mduduzi Shabalala was called up as his replacement. Lyle Foster and Sphephelo Sithole are the only players yet to report to camp, but they are expected on Tuesday.