Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise has reopened fresh conversations about Iqraam Rayners’ potential return to the Bafana Bafana fold ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Rayners last earned a national team call-up in October 2025. But he left camp as South Africa prepared for World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Coach Hugo Broos released him amid reports of a cardiac scare.
But Sundowns have since allayed any fears of the player being at high risk of heart failure. However, coach Miguel Cardoso has not been playing him frequently. That saw Rayners being frozen out of the national side since the October camp, and also missed out on the 2025 AFCON finals.
In 2026 alone, Rayners has failed to make Masandawana matchday squads six times while featuring in four games. But he reminded Cardoso of his quality after grabbing his brace in a Betway Premiership match against Sekhukhune United this past Sunday.
The double was sealed in the 23 minutes he was on the pitch. He had come on as a substitute to help the Brazilians win 3-1. As a result, Bafana’s 2010 FIFA World Cup player, Teko Modise, wants Rayners back in the Bafana squad.
BETWAY PREMIERSHIP GOLDEN BOOT AND WORLD CUP OPPORTUNITIES FOR RAYNERS
“There are certain positions that need momentum, a little bit of confidence and as a striker, you will always be judged by the number of goals you score in a season. It’s an unfair position because you are only judged on one thing,” said Modise on the Sundowns Pitchside Podcast.
“But also, look at the competition that is there [at Sundowns]. Sometimes, the same competition might derail you from a confidence point of view. But when given an opportunity like this, it’s great for his confidence.
“Not only that, it’s great to see him back on the pitch, being able to do what he does best and help the team go forward. Also, to get into a conversation about getting his name on that ticket, which is important for going to the World Cup. But he still has to do the business. Coming from the bench to be able to score such a brilliant goal. I just think you have to have some sort of belief for you to come from the bench and score such goals.
“You still want to be part of the team, you still believe that you can actually have an impact, and that’s exactly what he did. We just hope that from here on, he can continue.”
Interestingly, Rayners has remained firmly in the Betway Premiership Golden Boot race despite Cardoso dropping him from some games. He is currently on eight league goals and one fewer than the leading scorer and Golden Arrows striker Junior Dion.
“I still want to have this kind of conversation at the end of the season about the top goal-scorer. Rayners is on eight goals right now, and he hasn’t been playing so many games,” added Modise.
“He needs to be there [at the World Cup]. He missed an opportunity to go to AFCON in December, so I don’t want him to miss this opportunity to go to the World Cup.”
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