Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has unveiled a 36-member preliminary squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
The squad features most of the players who won bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year, and some exciting young players.
Broos included Burnley FC striker Lyle Foster who withdrew from the squad that featured at the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year, citing mental health issues.
He however featured for his club before the tournament, much to the irk of Broos and the South African Football Association.
The coach surprisingly didn’t include the DStv Premiership top goal scorer, Tshegofatso Mabasa of Orlando Pirates.
Also included in the preliminary squad is former Kaizer Chiefs defender, Siyabonga Ngezana, who just helped his new team in Romania, FCSB, win the Super Liga.
The final 23-member squad will be announced in the next few days.
Bafana Bafana will face the Super Eagles away from home in Uyo on 7 June, and then return to host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 11 June.
They last played in Bloemfontein when they beat France 2-1 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup 14 years ago.
