The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearing its end for Bafana Bafana, and the SA Football Association has revealed the venue and host city for their final, all-important qualifier against Rwanda at home.
Bafana Bafana are left with two matches to secure qualification to the biggest football competition in the world for the fourth time.
They will face neighbours Zimbabwe first before wrapping up their Group C qualifying campaign with a home fixture against Rwanda.
There had been questions about where SAFA would host Bafana’s last home match, following concerns about the pitch at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, where Bafana played Nigeria and Lesotho most recently.
But SAFA has confirmed that Bafana Bafana’s last FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Rwanda will be played at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
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SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao stated that the association has decided to take the match to the city of Mbombela, following coach Hugo Broos‘ recommendation.
“We are playing in Mbombela. I think initially when we indicated to FIFA we were still not sure where we were going to play,” Monyepao told SABC Sport.
“But Hugo Broos says he doesn’t care where he plays, but the field has to be in tip-top shape. I think you saw that we had issues in Bloemfontein, where they promised the field would be in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, leading up to the game, some rugby was played, which left the pitch in less than ideal condition.
“However, I think you saw Mbombela when there was the MTN8 final over the weekend [between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC], it’s in tip-top shape, and that’s the kind of field that Hugo Broos is looking at for our national team, so that they can play beautiful football. They can express themselves during those 90 minutes and get positive results.”
Bafana currently lead Group C with 17 points, three above second-placed Benin with two matches to go.
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