South Africa coach Hugo Broos says his team remains fully focused and deserving of a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup, despite a recent FIFA disciplinary ruling that saw Bafana Bafana docked three points for fielding an ineligible player.
Speaking as the national team assembled in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, on Monday ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, Broos expressed firm belief in his squad’s resilience.
“There are no doubts, there have never been any doubts from my side, and I will try to transfer this to the players,” Broos said. “I believe in this group and I am sure they will do everything in their power to win that game on Friday. If there is a team that deserves to go to the World Cup, it is South Africa.”
Bafana Bafana will face Zimbabwe on Friday, 10 October, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, before concluding their qualifying campaign against Rwanda on Tuesday, 14 October, at the Mbombela Stadium.
They head into the international window after FIFA’s ruling of 29 September 2025, which declared South Africa’s March 2025 qualifier against Lesotho forfeited 3–0, after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded while ineligible. The South African Football Association (SAFA) was also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a warning.
The deduction leaves Bafana Bafana tied on 14 points with Benin, who lead Group C on goal difference, while Nigeria and Rwanda follow closely on 11 points each — making the final two fixtures decisive in determining who qualifies and who advances to the World Cup playoffs.
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