The New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane is set to host a Bafana Bafana World Cup qualifier, seven years since it hosted the men’s national team, FARPost has learnt.
Negotiations between the Polokwane Municipality, SAFA and other stakeholders are believed to be in an advanced state to seal the deal. A mole told this publication that the deal is as good as done.
The South African national team has received massive support from different provinces since taking some of their matches outside Gauteng. It was evident when Bafana played at a packed Cape Town Stadium against South Sudan recently in a 2025 AFCON qualifier tie.
Fans in Gqeberha also showered the national team with love when they won 5-0 against Congo. Mangaung fans also had an opportunity when Bafana hosted Zimbabwe and packed the Toyota Stadium to its capacity.
BAFANA BAFANA TO PLAY THEIR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER MATCH IN POLOKWANE?
Bafana Bafana are set to play Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Group C match in March 2025. This publication has gathered that the Municipality of Polokwane has shown keen interest when approached to host the match with support from the provincial government.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup facility – the Peter Mokaba Stadium recently hosted two AFCON qualifiers, with Zimbabwe hosting Kenya and the latter also hosting Namibia.
POLOKWANE CITY MAYOR JOHN MPE HAS ALWAYS SHOWN INTEREST IN HOSTING BIG MATCHES AT PETER MOKABA STADIUM
FARPost asked the executive Mayor of Polokwane, John Mpe, in November about their interest in bringing Bafana Bafana to the city.
“We are looking at negotiating with SAFA to host Bafana Bafana at the stadium,” he said. “The People of Polokwane are sports-loving people, and we know they will fill up the stadium should we reach an agreement with SAFA to bring Bafana Bafana, even the South African Rugby Union, to bring the Springboks. We know the stadium will be full. We are also confident that all these things will happen.”
Bafana Bafana’s last match in Polokwane was a controversial 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal in 2017. The Lions of Teranga won the replay 2-0 after Bafana’s initial 2-1 victory was overturned due to refereeing errors.
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