Hugo Broos announces preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for Zimbabwe and Rwanda clashes

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced a strong preliminary squad set to face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in two crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers next month.

Zimbabwe will host Bafana at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, October 10, at 3 PM, before Broos’ men welcome Rwanda to Mbombela Stadium four days later at 6 PM.

Victories in both matches will see Bafana qualify for the global showpiece, regardless of whether they are docked three points and handed a 3-0 defeat by FifaS, who have launched an investigation into Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena was fielded against Lesotho in March despite being ineligible.

Broos is also leaving no stone unturned in his mission to lead Bafana to the promised land — the World Cup — which would mark his final hurrah as a coach.

His preliminary squad includes the core of the 23 players who beat Likuena and drew with the Super Eagles in the last qualifiers in Bloemfontein earlier this month.

However, there were some notable returns to the team, including Sphephelo Sithole, who last played for Bafana during their third-place finish at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.

After impressing in the MTN8 final — where he came off the bench to score a brace and assist a goal in a 3-0 win against Stellenbosch — Orlando Pirates attacker Tshepang Moremi has also earned a place in the preliminary squad.

Broos has omitted his “golden boy” Nyiko Mobbie from the squad, following a head collision he sustained during the qualifier against Lesotho. However, the coach shouldn't lose sleep over enough cover at right-back, as Khuliso Mudau is now available for selection. Mudau has returned to the match-day squad after a lengthy standoff with Sundowns’ hierarchy over a contractual issue.