Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa has spoken out on losing his position in the Bafana Bafana squad after being left out of the team that played in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in the past few days.
Makgopa’s exclusion from the national team came as Bafana Bafana took a significant step toward qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Pirates forward was not part of the squad that secured a dominant 3-0 win over Lesotho last Friday and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nigeria on Tuesday. Both crucial Group C matches were held at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Following these results, Bafana Bafana now sits at the top of their group with 17 points after eight games, three points ahead of second-placed Benin.
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has preferred Iqraam Rayners and Lyle Foster to lead the attack in Makgopa’s absence. Makgopa had been a regular for the national team, even helping them clinch the bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in the Ivory Coast.
EVIDENCE MAKGOPA VIEWS BAFANA SNUB AS AN EYE-OPENER
His recent exclusion comes amid a slow start to the 2025/26 season with Pirates, where he is yet to score in six appearances across all competitions. Makgopa acknowledged that his form at club level is a key factor and stated that the Bafana snub has motivated him to put in extra effort to regain his place in the national team setup.
“I have to work hard for me to go back to the Bafana squad, maybe this is an eye opener for me to push myself and work hard,” Makgopa told the media on Tuesday at the Rand Stadium during Pirates’ media open day.
The striker also weighed in on the competition for a starting spot at Pirates, acknowledging the quality of his teammates.
Makgopa faces stiff competition from fellow forwards Boitumelo Radiopane, Tshegofatso Mabasa, and recent signing Yanela Mbuthuma, all of whom are vying to lead the club’s attack.
He emphasised that despite the rivalry, they operate as “brothers” and that he is constantly learning from his peers. This professional and collaborative mindset, he believes, helps simplify their jobs as players on the field.
“I always tell people that before we are competitors, we are brothers. So I think that’s what’s making our jobs simple. I learn a lot from Tshego, Boitumelo, and Mbuthuma, even though the latter just arrived.”
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