Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos could be considering other options following an injury picked up by centre-back Ime Okon during Hannover 96’s 3-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga 2 on Sunday.
The former SuperSport United defender started the match but lasted just 34 minutes after sustaining a thigh injury and was replaced by Hendry Blank. Hannover 96 have confirmed that “Ime Okon had to leave the pitch with a thigh problem”, but the club is yet to announce the extent of the injury and how long he will need to recover.
Okon’s latest injury setback comes after fitness issues forced him to withdraw from Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria earlier in September. There are now fresh fears he could miss the upcoming national team camp after being included in the preliminary squad.
Broos’ troops are set to prepare for the final push in their bid to return to the quadrennial global football tournament.
They face Zimbabwe on October 10 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, before clashing with Rwanda four days later at Mbombela Stadium. Okon is capped five times by South Africa, all games being at the 2025 COSAFA Cup and he is now pushing to play under Broos for the first time.
BROOS’ OPTIONS IN CENTRAL DEFENCE
In the event Okon fails to recover in time for the October World Cup qualifiers, Broos is not short of central defenders he can bank on.
In his preliminary squad, the 73-year-old included the Orlando Pirates duo of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Nkosinathi Sibisi as well as Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back Malibongwe Khoza. Stellenbosch’s Thabo Moloisane, Khulumani Ndamane and Keegan Allan have also been called up.
Okon’s move to Germany earned him the trust of the Belgian tactician and has so far this season started seven Bundesliga 2 matches and scored once. The South African-Nigerian has also featured in one German Cup match for Hannover 96.
RELATED STORY: German side confirm Ime Okon’s acquisition