S’Africa unveils final squad to face Eagles

Hugo Broos, South Africa coach, has unveiled his final 23-man squad that will face the Super Eagles in the June 7th World Cup qualifier in Uyo.

His 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, including matches against Nigeria away and Zimbabwe at home, will be based on the same selection criteria used for the recent games.

According to South African media reports indicate that the Belgian coach has again excluded in-form Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa from the team, opting instead to rely on familiar strikers he has worked with previously.

Mabasa ended top scorer in the Premiership with 16 goals, one ahead of Stellenbosch FC’s Iqraam Rayners, who got the nod alongside Burnley’s Foster, Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Patrick Maswanganyi, Elias Mokwana and Relebogile Mofokeng in the forwards.

Lyle Foster of the recently relegated Burnley in the English Premier League is a major inclusion. He was excluded in the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 squad on health ground.

Broos reportedly explained that the health issues were a thing of the past as he also had discussions with Burnley before including the striker again.

“His health problems are over,” the coach stated as he announced his squad on SABC Sport.

“And I know I was at one stage very unhappy because we got the news Lyle was not ready and had a mental problem and suddenly he started playing with Burnley (ahead of AFCON).

“So, we had contact with (the club in) England again and they said, ‘Yeah, but he’s not ready’. And also Lyle wrote a letter to us that he did not want to go to Afcon. That’s why he was not with us in Ivory Coast.

“After that, for [the friendlies against Andorra and Algeria] in March I made contact again and again they said, ‘No — its better you don’t call him because he’s still not 100 per cent.’

“But he still played every game for Burnley, so it was not easy to accept that. But OK, I followed the medical reasons for why I couldn’t take him.“But now, everything was OK. I phoned him [Foster] and we had a good chat. I called (then still Burnley manager Vincent) Kompany and we had a good chat. So there are no problems anymore and that’s the reason Lyle is with us again.”

In Group C, South Africa sits in second place with three points, trailing leaders Rwanda by one point. Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe are tied with two points each, while Benin trails with a single point.

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