Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has promised that his charges will “fight like lions” when they meet Zimbabwe in a highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.
Kick-off is at 18:00.
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This is the penultimate match of the South Africa’s senior men’s national team’s qualifying campaign, and the Belgian mentor said it will be all hands on deck at the Durban stadium.
‘Committed to the task’
He said the team remains committed to the task at hand and they are the same group of players that have worked tirelessly to keep South Africa in the race for qualification for two years.
“Nothing has changed. I feel that the group, the boys, the players, they know that they are the same players from two months ago.
“They are the same team with the same quality and with a fantastic mentality,” he said.
“Friday at 18:00, the game starts and we will fight for it like lions because we want to win that game tomorrow, you can be sure of it.”
UPDATE | These African countries have qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026
‘Work very hard’
Captain Ronwen Williams said the team would work very hard and ensure that they get the required number of points from these last two matches against Zimbabwe (on Friday) and Rwanda (in Mbombela next Tuesday).
“We know what is at stake. This is the business end of the qualifiers, but nothing has changed and we need to be the same team we have been for the last two or three years.
“We have been growing, and we have been so good, but we need to finish it on a positive note.
“We have set ourselves high standards. When we started the World Cup campaign, we said we wanted to qualify and it is close now.”
Bafana Bafana arrived in Durban on Thursday morning and were given a rousing welcome by fans at the King Shaka International Airport and at the team hotel in North Beach.
Broos said he hopes to see the same passion in the stands at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
MEC of sports, arts and culture in KwaZulu-Natal, Mntomuhle Khawula, SAFA President Danny Jordaan, KwaZulu-Natal Sport Confederation President Thami Mchunu, and SAFA NEC member and SAFA KZN Chairperson Kwenzakwakhe Ngwenya all paid the team a visit on Thursday to wish them well.
Standings
As things currently stand, South Africa are second on goal difference behind Benin in Group C.
However, Benin face a far tougher remaining schedule with away matches against both Rwanda and Nigeria.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will held in the United States, Canada and Mexico between 11 June and 19 July and will comprise 48 countries in the biggest tournament to date.
Matches are scheduled to take place in 16 host cities.
