Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has hinted at a possible change to his defence ahead of the Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria on Tuesday.
Broos’ charges host the Super Eagles in a crucial encounter set for the Totoya Stadium in Bloemfontein, with kick-off set for 18:00.
The Bafana coach fielded a new-look backline in the 3-0 victory over Lesotho on Friday. Orlando Pirates’ Player of the Month for August, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, was partnered with Thabo Moloisane in defence. The duo was making their first competitive appearances in the senior national team.
Mamelodi Sundowns right-back, Zuko Mdunyelwa, an early substitute in the first half, also made his competitive debut for the national team. Moloisane had to be withdrawn due to a head injury during the match and was replaced by another rookie, Khulumani Ndamane.
Ahead of the crucial qualifier against the Super Eagles, the Belgian coach has suggested he might include a defender who did not start the previous game.
WHAT DEFENSIVE CHANGE IS HUGO BROOS LIKELY TO MAKE AGAINST NIGERIA
Siyabonga Ngezana, capped seven times for Bafana, looks likely to partner with Mbokazi in central defence if Broos’s words are anything to go by. Interestingly, the FSCB defender started the reverse fixture against Nigeria in July 2024.
“Before the game on Friday, we had four players who had one yellow card,” Broos told journalists. “It was Khuliso [Mudau], but Khuliso is not with us. It was [Siyabonga] Ngezana, it was Aubrey, and it was Foster, so we couldn’t put them all on the bench and hope, and as a precaution for the game of tomorrow.
“We couldn’t do that. So, we took a little risk with [Lyle] Foster as a striker. Normally, strikers don’t get yellow cards. And with Aubrey [Modiba], that was a risk. But everything went well.
“So this guy [Ngezana], I put him on the bench because I didn’t want to let them play and get the stupid yellow card. So that should mean that he was not able to play tomorrow [because of suspension]. So again, there are. We took some precautions on Friday, and it went well.”
A win for South Africa would take them 19 points, bringing them closer to qualification as group leaders. Meanwhile, the visitors would be keen to secure maximum points and reduce the gap to the group leaders.
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