Orlando Pirates midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng has been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, with a Kaizer Chiefs star named as his replacement.
Mofokeng picked up an injury over the weekend in the Carling Knockout Cup as Pirates beat Siwelele FC 1-0 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. As a result, he will play no part when Bafana take on The Warriors in Durban on Friday before facing Amavubi Stars in Mbombela on Tuesday next week.
Attacking midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala of Chiefs now joins the Bafana Bafana camp, replacing Mofokeng for the crucial final two World Cup qualifiers, where the team will look to secure their place in the global showpiece.
Shabalala was initially in the preliminary squad, but dropped when coach Hugo Broos named the final squad.
The Amakhosi academy graduate was part of the Bafana team that played in the qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria, although he didn’t get any minutes in those two fixtures.
HUGO BROOS ON SHABALALA CALL UP
“We had to replace Rele Mofokeng because of the injury he got on Saturday,” Broos told the media at a press conference held Monday afternoon at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
He also confirmed that all his players had reported for camp, with the exception of overseas-based duo Lyle Foster and Sphephelo Sithole, who are expected to join the squad on Tuesday morning.
“There are two players who have not arrived, that’s Foster and Sithole. They will arrive tomorrow [Tuesday],” Broos said.
Bafana Bafana will have to win both games after being docked three points for fielding Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena was meant to serve a suspension in the clash against Lesotho in March but played the entire game.
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