Bafana Bafana Eye World Cup Return Under Hugo Broos
Hugo Broos’ pledge to guide Bafana Bafana back to the FIFA World Cup finals is nearing fulfillment. The team will play an away match against Lesotho on Friday at 18:00 at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Lesotho, unable to host at a stadium meeting CAF standards, will stage the match just under two hours from Maseru on the N8. Ranked 148th globally, Likuena have never reached the AFCON finals or won the COSAFA Cup, making Friday’s game a crucial opportunity for Bafana to secure vital points in Group C.
A win against Lesotho, combined with a draw between Nigeria and Rwanda and Benin not taking full points against Zimbabwe, would move Bafana to 16 points. This would place them seven points clear of second-placed Nigeria, with Rwanda and Benin at nine. Another victory against Nigeria in the upcoming home fixture would take Bafana to 19 points, putting qualification firmly within reach.
Two remaining matches in October against Zimbabwe and Rwanda still offer six points, giving Bafana control over their qualification destiny. Securing all available points would also lift the team into the top 50 of the FIFA rankings, improving from their current 56th position globally and 10th on the continent. The last time Bafana reached the top 50 was October 2011, climbing as high as 38th after hosting the 2010 World Cup.
Following the World Cup qualifiers, Bafana Bafana will compete at the AFCON finals in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. They are drawn with Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe, marking their 12th appearance at the biennial tournament. Their qualification follows a strong performance at the previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, where they finished with a bronze medal.
