Hugo Broos names final Bafana Bafana squad for World Cup qualifiers | OneFootball

Broos announces final Bafana squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Photo: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has announced his final 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in Bloemfontein next month.

The South African national team will square off against Lesotho at Free State Stadium on 05 September, before renewing their rivalry with fierce nemesis, the Super Eagles of Nigeria four days later at the same venue.

Broos’ charges retain a healthy position in their qualifying group and will head into the matches high on confidence as they are at the summit of group C with 13 points amassed from six matches played thus far.

Bafana have a five-point gap over second-placed Rwanda and third-placed Benin, who are both level on eight points. Meanwhile, Nigeria are currently in fourth place as their hopes of booking a spot in the global showpieces hangs by a thread.

The 72-year-old Belgian mentor, who guided Bafana to a third-place finish in the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) kept the core of his squad, while selecting new faces, including Mduduzi Shabalala, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Ime Okon.