Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has detailed how Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners could transform Bafana Bafana’s attack under Hugo Broos.
Broos has guided South Africa to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first qualification since 2002, excluding their automatic entry as hosts in 2010.
However, attacking efficiency remains a concern. Bafana were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, losing 2-1 to Cameroon despite creating several chances. They missed three clear-cut opportunities in the first half before conceding and ultimately exiting the tournament.
Mngqithi believes Foster and Rayners offer Broos two distinct but equally dangerous attacking options capable of unlocking defences and converting chances.
Rayners, however, was not included in the squad for the recent friendlies against Panama. Instead, Broos selected Evidence Makgopa as backup to Foster. The Orlando Pirates striker was also part of the AFCON squad.
HOW MNGQITHI SEES FOSTER & RAYNERS FITTING IN?
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach believes “the team’s personality will indicate exactly what type of strikers we have.”
“In my opinion, a striker like Iqraam Rayners is still amongst the best for the type of national team and the personality we need. Because we need to consider the ability to play in the space behind,” Mngqithi told Arrow’s Up Back Through Podcast.
“I think that was shown even in AFCON; when we played with a [Tshepang] Moremi to demand the space behind, we can be stronger against bigger nations. When we play with an Iqraam, we can be stronger against bigger nations.
“And when we want to play with Lyle Foster, we must not work him opposite his strengths, because his strength is a box striker. Against nations that we think we can dominate and put them on the sword, then we can have a Lyle Foster as our nine, just to make sure that in the box we’ve got presence, because he’s very good in and around the box.
“But when we are hoping to play from the medium block, and we’ve got a striker like Lyle, I’m not too sure it is the right profile for that approach.”
South Africa kick off their campaign against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on 11 June, then travel to Atlanta to face the Czech Republic a week later. Their final Group A match is in Greater Monterrey against South Korea on 25 June.
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