Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has conceded that they can only focus on themselves heading into their last crucial Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Rwanda, and hope that the other game pans out in their favour.
Bafana will face Rwanda in their last qualifier at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night (6pm kick-off), needing to win at all costs, while primarily banking on Nigeria to beat Benin in the other match in order to finish top of Group C and automatically qualify for the global showpiece, which will be co-hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
That’s not the only permutation, though. Bafana can still qualify for the World Cup should they beat Rwanda convincingly with at least three goals and upwards, and the game between Nigeria and Benin end in a draw.
Bafana find themselves in need of intervention from the football gods after they were docked three points and handed a 3-0 defeat by Fifa after contravening the disciplinary code by fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their 2-0 win over Lesotho in the home qualifier in March.
They also didn’t make things easier for themselves in the penultimate qualifier, as they dropped two crucial points during the goalless draw with neighbours Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night.
So, speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Rwanda, Broos conceded that their fate is out of their hands, but they can’t allow the outside noise to deter them from being positive.
“I said in the past few days that it wasn’t a good result for us (against Zimbabwe), but we don’t have to start doubting the quality of the team at this moment,” Broos stated.
“We don’t have to do what some people are doing now: start doubting and putting everything in question. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do now.
“We have to support the team. I am sure that we’ll be ready tomorrow. We are ready to win the game, but we all know that won’t be enough. Let’s hope that the gods are with us.”
Broos said they don’t have to think about throwing the ‘kitchen sink’ at Rwanda from the start as that could expose them defensively, especially given the absence of defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who’s suspended for the game after conceding a red card against The Warriors.
“The opponent is very dangerous in transition, so if you are going to attack blindly not thinking about what happens when we don’t have the ball, that would be dangerous,” Broos said.
“Let’s first aim to win the game, and see if we can do it with as many goals as possible.”
Broos has called up Thabo Moloisane as Mbokazi’s replacement, but he was tight-lipped on whether the Stellenbosch vice-captain will walk straight into the starting lineup.
“I have to talk with Helman Mkhalele this evening, because it will certainly not be an easy decision to make,” Broos said.
“We will see tonight, and make what we think will be the best decision for the team. So, let’s hope that we make the right one.”
The 73-year-old Belgian has been in coaching for 37 years, and he admitted that he’s never found himself in a dilemma where they needed other teams to do them favours, having started their qualification process smoothly.
“It is what it is,” Broos said.
“I will be bitter if we don’t do our part. We need to have a good performance, and hope that Benin loses the game in Nigeria. But we need to avoid that thinking.
“We have to try to make sure that we do everything right because if the odds are against us then we won’t qualify … You can talk about it for one hour, but it won’t change the situation.”
