Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has announced his final squad for South Africa’s last two group games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
South Africa will play its final two group games of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday 10 October and against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela on Tuesday 14 October.
The 23-man squad contains eight changes from Broos’ squad for September’s qualifiers, with Sydney Mobbie, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Ime Okon, Siyabonga Ngezana, Luke Le Roux, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Patrick Maswanganyi and Mduduzi Shabalala being replaced.
Malibongwe Khoza receives his first call up for the senior national team after impressing at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and becoming a regular starter for Mamelodi Sundowns.
He is joined by Thabang Matuludi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sphephelo Sithole, Thapelo Morena, Tshepang Moremi and Khuliso Mudau in the new squad.
South Africa were docked three points by FIFA, having their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March overturned to a 3-0 loss for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who should have been serving a one-game suspension for yellow cards accumulated.
As a result, Bafana Bafana now sit second in group C, level with Benin on 14 points but behind by one goal on goal difference.
With two qualifiers left to go in the group stage, South Africa will need to win both of their fixtures and overtake Benin on goal difference or hope the Cheetah’s slip up and drop points in order to secure automatic qualification.
Should Bafana Bafana not manage to do so, they will hope to secure the one CAF allocated spot in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
South Africa will look to overcome Zimbabwe for the second time in the qualifiers and beat Rwanda for the first time this campaign after falling to the Wasps 2-0 away from home in November 2023.
Squad:
Ronwen Williams – Mamelodi Sundowns
Sipho Chaine – Orlando Pirates
Ricardo Goss – Siwelele FC
Malibongwe Khoza – Mamelodi Sundowns
Khuliso Mudau – Mamelodi Sundowns
Aubrey Modiba – Mamelodi Sundowns
Khulumani Ndamane – TS Galaxy
Mbekezeli Mbokazi – Orlando Pirates
Thabang Matuludi – Polokwane City
Samukelo Kabini – Molde FK (Norway)
Nkosinathi Sibisi – Orlando Pirates
Sphephelo Sithole – CD Tondela (Portugal)
Teboho Mokoena – Mamelodi Sundowns
Bathusi Aubaas – Mamelodi Sundowns
Thalente Mbatha – Orlando Pirates
Thapelo Morena – Mamelodi Sundowns
Sipho Mbule – Orlando Pirates
Tshepang Moremi – Orlando Pirates
Oswin Appolis – Orlando Pirates
Mohau Nkota – Al Ettifaq FC (Saudi Arabia)
Relebohile Mofokeng – Orlando Pirates
Iqraam Rayners – Mamelodi Sundowns
Lyle Foster – Burnley FC (England)
