Bafana Bafana of South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has announced his preliminary squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Lesotho and the Super Eagles of Nigeria, The South African reports.
Broos’ side will take on Lesotho and the Super Eagles on 5 and 9 September respectively in their attempt to make a first World Cup appearance since 2010.
There are familiar faces in the preliminary squad, including that of Sipho Mbule, Mohau Nkota who recently moved to Saudi Arabia.
Orlando Pirates youngsters Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng have also been included.
Kaizer Chiefs have also been represented by Bradley Cross and Mduduzi Shabalala.
As expected, Mamelodi Sundowns dominate this preliminary squad with the majority of their top stars making the cut.
There are concerns, though, with two of Sundowns players in Khuliso Mudau and Themba Zwane who have also been included.
Mudau is yet to kick a ball for Sundowns this season while Zwane suffered an injury against Pirates last week.
Zwane is expected to be out for at least two months, according to his Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.
Now, Broos is expected to trim the squad down to 23 closer to the dates of these two crucial fixtures.
Bafana Bafana top the Group C standings with 13 points from six matches followed by Rwanda who are on eight points.
The Super Eagles are fourth on seven points after six matches played.
In the reverse fixture between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana, a second half goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru helped the Nigerian team to a 1-1 draw in Uyo.
10 Comments
Finidi really did us dirty with that 1-1 draw in Uyo and losing 2-1 to Benin in Abidjan.
However, I see Nigeria beating SA come Sept 9. My concern, though, is why FIFA is dragging its feet with the 3-point deduction penalty for SA?
I also wonder what NFF were thinking, distracting Chelle with the CHAN assignment. Did they see Hugo Broos as the competition, even though SA were also there? If by some miracle or mistake, the NPFL players qualified for the next round, how would Chelle have focused on 2 things at once? So, in a way, it was good that NPFL players were dumped out early. They were not good anyway.
Looking forward to the release of the SE list for the 2 matches. I just don’t want to see Victor Boniface’s name there.
I tell you they should not call that Victor boniface to that team they guy is a big clown
This is true. Victor Boniface is not good.
Well, Nigeria is in decey position. the gap on the table is precarious. Qualification is through the eye of a niddle. But nothing is impossible. Past coaches and the players then did not try. They have no business losing matched based on Nigeria’,s pedigree. I want the football association/federation to listen to spiritual messages, not to slight those messages. The the government over see the remaining qualifying matchesby close marking the foot football body. This the only thing that the common man gains in country that has no feeling for their compatriots. Eg the removal of fuel subsidy very unfriendly. So l am appealing to the stake holders to do something about it. This year, the female football had set the example of commitment and the result has shown. Remove u performing old players and draft in strong ad skillful football players. There are some players already dead woods, and there are players all over the world making waves in the leagues. Nigeria should bring Nigerians ex foot ballers to take over from Eric Chelle. Immediately. NFF had made major mistake by asking the nation team coach to manage home based tournament leaving his main duty activeless. Not comfortable with it.
* THE NEXT MAJOR FOCUS POINT**
AS CRUCIAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS IS GETTING CLOSER DAY BY DAY. IF WE TRUELY WANT TO SUCCEED IN WINNING THE REST OF THE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS MATCHES & QUALIFY FOR NEXT WORLD CUP., MY ADVICE FOR ERIC CHELLE AND HIS ASSISTANTS IS STRICTLY BASE ON WHO & WHICH PLAYERS TRUELY DESERVE TO BE INVITED FOR NEXT REMAINING WORLD CUP QUALIFIER MATCHES.
## ERIC CHELLE SHOULD GO & ANALYTICALLY WATCH THE PERFORMANCE OF LAST TEN CONSECUTIVE MATCHES EACH PLAYERS HAS PLAYED IN THE PAST FOR SUPER EAGLE TO REALLY KNOW WHICH PLAYERS ACTUALLY HAVE THE FIGHTING SPIRIT(aggressiveness), QUALITY, POTENTIAL & TRUELY DESERVE TO BE INVITED FOR NEXT REMAINING CRUCIAL WORLD CUP QUALIFIER MATCHES.
*** FOR INSTANCE:
@(1). the performance of the last ten matches BONIFACE played is ZERO. IT IS NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT.( despite not scoring goal, he doesn’t show good quality on the field of play) OLUWASEGUN( from Russia), DUROSIMI(from vict.Pizen) are better than him.
@(2). ….. ONUACHU last ten matches played is also ZERO. IT’S NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT .(he is European club goal scorers DECIEVER, His style of play doesn’t suit Super eagles team)
CYRIEL DESSERS is far far better than him.
PLAYERS WITH STRONG CHARACTER, AGGRESSIVENESS, FIGHTING SPIRIT & ABLE TO RUN WITH THE BALL IS THE KEY TO QUALIFY FOR NEXT WORLD CUP
ERIC CHELLE SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO DICTATORS & FORGET NAME, EGO, SENIORITY, LEADERSHIP/EXPERIENCE AS A YARDSTICK IN INVITING PLAYERS.
HE SHOULD INVITE PLAYERS BASE ON AGGRESSIVENESS, QUALITY & POTENTIAL
** THE LIKE OF MUSA, ONUACHU, OMERUO, IHEANACHO, S.UMAR, AWONIYI ARE SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENT.
### WE NEED OLUWASEGUN, DUROSIMI, ORBAN,, UCHE-CHRISANTUS, DESSERS, AROKODARE, DELE-BASIRU
Thumbs up Sister Woman Juliet. You made good points.
Your digestion is huge and sacrosant. Dead wood players, we have been watching them are known. No Borniface, Awonoyi, Annuch,and host of others. bring in result oriented players. Boniface is not a good player. Onnuchu, Awonoyi don’t even bring on the bench.
Victor Boniface is a complete letdown for the super eagle. He has played countless number of games for the nation without any goal to show for it. l don’t want to say that he is worthless or a useless player for the national team, but a time has come to question the validity of continuously inviting him to play for Nigeria. To compare him to Kane is to compare apple to orange. It is an insult to Kane do so. In my area, l have heard people call him Boni-yeye on several occasions on this platform.
Thumbs up Eddie. You are rite.