Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has acknowledged that South Africa is facing a challenging period in their next two matches. The national team will host Lesotho on Friday evening before travelling to Ivory Coast to take on Benin.
Hugo Broos’ team is presently in second place in their qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos Has Urged His Players to Remain Cautious of Lesotho.
The Belgian has emphasised the importance of respecting their upcoming opponents, despite their low FIFA ranking.
“Everyone is fit for tomorrow [today, 21 March 2025], for this difficult and tough game,” Hugo Broos revealed.
“It has become a habit here in Africa that you’re never sure about victory before the game. We saw it yesterday [Wednesday] in the qualifier between Cameroon and Eswatini, it ended 0-0.
“Tomorrow, we have an opponent that we cannot underestimate because they played in September against Morocco. They lost 1-0 in the 93rd minute.
“They played more than a year ago in Nigeria and it was 0-0. So, that means we have a tough game in front of us tomorrow. On the other hand, I think we have to also be confident in our own qualities. We showed that last year.” He stated.
Hugo Broos will aim to secure second place by securing a victory on Friday evening.
Bafana Bafana Travel to Ivory Coast to face Benin
South Africa will face Benin on Tuesday evening in their next 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The match will take place in Ivory Coast.
Although Benin will not be playing at home, Hugo Broos maintains that this will have little advantage for his side.
“First up we have Lesotho on Friday. Lesotho is a team that fights for each other.
“They fight for each other, they fight for each meter and every ball, and they are playing against South Africa. So, I think they will try to do something more against South Africa and against other teams.
“So again, it will be a tough game.
“And then we have the game outside of the country against Benin. The only advantage we have here is that Benin is playing in Ivory Coast, so a big crowd and their supporters will not be there.
“That is a little advantage for us.” He stated.
Do you believe Bafana Bafana can win both matches against Lesotho and Benin to enhance their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1!
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
