Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has expressed his views on the possibility of nationalising Brazilian star Lucas Ribeiro Costa to represent the South African national team.
Ribeiro has been in stellar form, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season.
In the Betway Premiership, the Mamelodi Sundowns attacker is the leading goal scorer with 13 goals. The 26-year-old has previously stated that he is eager to play for Bafana.
The left-footed forward would have to acquire citizenship to be able to represent Bafana. Interestingly, Gaston Sirino, a Uruguay national who arrived in South Africa in 2018, now holds a South African passport and can play for Bafana.
Interestingly, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso expressed his thoughts earlier this week on Ribeiro’s prospects of playing for the Brazil national team. The Portuguese mentor acknowledged Ribeiro had been the best player in the league.
However, he believes that for him to represent his home country, he will have to “prove himself on another level.” Cardoso said players called up to Seleção Canarinho “play in the biggest teams in the world.”
The Belgian mentor, Broos, has since weighed in on the matter.
WHAT DID HUGO BROOS SAY ABOUT LUCAS RIBEIRO REPRESENTING BAFANA BAFANA?
“It’s not a question of liking or not liking [the player],” Broos told eNCA. “He’s a very good player, but I don’t think you can exaggerate with that. I don’t want to naturalise or make foreign players South Africans. That’s not a good way.”
While Broos is clearly not a fan of naturalising foreign players, he feels if the player is “an exception”, he must be considered.
“You have to respect your South African players also,” he added. “But if there is some exception, maybe he is an exception, and it is possible, why shouldn’t we accept it?”
Broos will guide Bafana against Lesotho in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday, 21 March. They will then visit Benin on Tuesday, 25 March. That game will be played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory Coast.
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