Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has unveiled his provisional squad ahead of South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Nigeria’s Super Eagles, The South African reports.
The qualifiers are scheduled for 5 and 9 September, with Broos’ men aiming to return to the World Cup stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
Among the familiar names in the squad are Sipho Mbule and Mohau Nkota, who recently completed a move to Saudi Arabia.
Rising stars from Orlando Pirates, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng, have also been handed a chance.
Kaizer Chiefs’ duo Bradley Cross and Mduduzi Shabalala represent Amakhosi in the list, while Mamelodi Sundowns, as expected, make up the bulk of the squad with several of their key players included.
Concerns, however, surround Sundowns pair Khuliso Mudau and Themba Zwane. “Mudau is yet to kick a ball for Sundowns this season while Zwane suffered an injury against Pirates last week,” the report noted. Zwane’s coach, Miguel Cardoso, has since revealed that the midfielder “is expected to be out for at least two months.”
Broos is expected to reduce the list to 23 players as the games draw closer.
South Africa currently sit top of Group C with 13 points from six games, five points clear of Rwanda in second place. Nigeria, meanwhile, find themselves in fourth position with seven points after the same number of matches.
When the two sides last met in Uyo, a second-half strike from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru rescued Nigeria in a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana.
