Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi belongs in the top European leagues. This is the view of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who has heaped praise on the 19-year-old, who has showed maturity beyond his years. Mbokazi, who has captained the Buccaneers in the absence of Nkosinathi Sibisi, is in the Bafana Bafana squad to play Lesotho and Nigeria in FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month. “From the beginning, he showed a very mature attitude. He’s confident, he’s strong, he…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has shared details of a meeting where he knocked some sense into Khuliso Mudau’s head. Mudau, who is arguably the best right-back in Africa, has been at loggerheads with his employers, Mamelodi Sundowns, and only returned to training this week. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old did not make the Bafana Bafana team to play FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month against Lesotho and Nigeria on 5 and 9 September, respectively. “First of all, I made contact…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has weighed in on the Teboho Mokoena ineligibility saga, and the Belgian has suggested there is no need for Bafana Bafana to be punished. A dark cloud still hangs over South Africa’s senior national team since midfielder Mokoena took to the field in the 2-0 win over Lesotho in March despite the fact that he had accumulated two yellow cards and was, therefore, suspended for the match. Bafana Bafana are top of Group C of…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has cut down the squad from 48 to 23 players ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Bafana Bafana will clash with neighbours Lesotho ‘away’ at the Free State Stadium on 5 September, before hosting Nigeria at the same venue four days later. South Africa’s senior national team tops Group C with 13 points from six matches and is five points ahead of second-placed Rwanda. Here is the squad;

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 48-man preliminary squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, including the injured Themba Zwane. Bafana Bafana will battle neighbours Lesotho ‘away’ at the Free State Stadium on 5 September, before hosting Nigeria at the same venue four days later. African Times reported earlier on Thursday that Zwane, 36, is out for approximately two months due to a thigh injury. Zwane, however, still features in the team and would most likely be…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is all smiles after the international friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique. Bafana Bafana hosted the two teams at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. The first match against Tanzania ended goalless, but Bafana Bafana were 2-0 to the good against Mozambique on Tuesday, stretching their unbeaten run to 20 matches across all competitions. The results mattered little to Broos, however. The objective was to create a bigger pool from which to select players in future games.…

Bafana Bafana played to a disappointing goalless draw against Tanzania at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday. To his defence, Bafana mentor Hugo Broos did sound a warning prior to the match that it was not a must-win clash but rather to cast his eye on the new players, and true to his word, Bafana did not play as well as expected. The hosts kicked off with three debutants: Deano van Rooyen, Simphiwe Selepe, and Khulumani Ndamane, and the…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he’s encouraged by what he’s seen from the new faces in camp. Bafana Bafana will host Tanzania at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening, before taking on Mozambique at the same venue on Tuesday. Broos picked a few youngsters in his final squad for the friendlies; Mbekezeli Mbokazi [19], Simphiwe Selepe [20] Mohau Nkota [20], Khulumani Ndamane [21] and Samukelo Kabini [21]. “I’m very happy with what I saw in the past…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will leave the dugout in about a year, if all goes according to plan. Bafana, in Group C, are edging closer to qualifying for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will be played in North America from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Broos’s men top the group with 13 points with four matches remaining, but Bafana could be docked three points for allegedly fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena during the qualifiers. This matter…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has a bone to pick with South African football journalists. The Belgian was speaking in Polokwane, Limpopo, where Bafana Bafana will play two friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 6 and 10 June, respectively. Broos, who has previously spoken out against club officials and coaches, has maintained his stance that he should be left alone to guide Bafana Bafana without suggestions of who should be in the team. This time,…