South Africa announces 36-man preliminary squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
The senior national team of South Africa, aka Bafana Bafana, coached by Hugo Broos, has announced a 36-man squad for next month’s FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
On Friday, June 7, 2024, the Bafana Bafana will play the Super Eagles of Nigeria away from home in Uyo and four days later, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to be precise, the team will host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The team last competed in Bloemfontein 14 years ago, when they defeated France 2-1 in the international FIFA event. This will be their first trip back to the city since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
To prosecute the two World Cup qualifiers, Broos invited a 36-man preliminary squad, including four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, five midfielders, and 12 attackers.
Among the notable names invited for the two games are Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Sphesphe Sithole (Tondela, Portugal), and Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns).
See the full list of South Africa’s 35-man provisional squad below;
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu, South Africa), and Ricardo Goss (Supersports United, South Africa).
Defenders: Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Given Msimango (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Khuliso Mudau (Sundowns, South Africa), Siyabonga Ncezana (Fotbal Club FCSB, Romania), Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Grant Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), and Thabo Maloisane (Stellenbosch, South Africa).
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Grant Margeman (Supersports United, South Africa), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal), and Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch, South Africa).
Forwards: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Tshepanc Moremi (AmaZulu, South Africa), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch, South Africa), Mlondi Mbanjwa (AmaZulu FC, South Africa), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United FC, South Africa), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City, South Africa), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC, South Africa), Lyle Foster (Burnley FC, England), and Relebogile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates, South Africa).
