Hugo Broos, the head coach of South Africa’s senior men’s team, says Bafana will use their point deduction as motivation to fight hard and qualify for the World Cup in the final two games.
After fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in March, South Africa was docked three points even though the player was suspended and would have served a one-match ban.
The punishment from FIFA has seen Bafana drop to second place in the group standings, which means that South Africa will need to win their two remaining matches to revive their hopes of securing a World Cup spot.
However, Bafana are level with Benin on 14 points, but Benin is topping the group due to a better goal difference.
If Bafana wins their two remaining matches, they will accumulate 20 points, which will give them a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to SABC Sport in an interview, Hugo Broos emphasized the importance of the team’s desire to fight for everything in their remaining matches.
“Just focus on the two games that are coming up and support us like you did already the months before, and we will see where we arrive, but we will do everything for 100% to win these two games,” he said.
“Again, for me it’s an extra motivation, and I will try to put it in my players’ heads also that in those two games they have never seen a team of South Africa that they will see now in those two games. We will fight like lions,” noted Broos.
Broos has named his 23-member squad that will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team will start camping this coming Monday.
