Bafana Bafana Touch Down Polokwane
Bafana Bafana reached Polokwane, Limpopo, on Monday in preparation for the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho on Friday and Benin next Tuesday.
Broos’ team continues the World Cup qualifying matches when they welcome their neighbors at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Human Rights Day, Friday, 21 March 2025. They subsequently charter a flight to Côte d’Ivoire to compete against Benin in the second qualifier a few days after.
“I am very happy to be here in this fantastic location. People knows how to receive a team,” said Broos referring to their accommodation at The Range Resort in Polokwane.
He stressed that 21 players are present at the camp, excluding Aubrey Modiba, who left to support his wife during the birth of their child. He mentioned that two injuries hindered him from having his desired squad, citing Rushwin Dorthley and Patrick Maswanganyi.
“First of all we have the injury of Dorthley but that we knew (about it) and we tried to replace him (with) (Kulumani) Ndamane but he did not have a passport and we took Thabo (Moloisane) to replace him,” said Hugo. “Second injury was Maswanganyi; I am a little bit angry because we only knew (about) it yesterday evening when I heard Maswangayi was already injured on Saturday as he couldn’t play yesterday.”
Tito was seen in the stands at FNB Stadium when his team Orlando Pirates defeated Mamelodi Sundowns by 2 goals to 1 in the Betway Premiership.
Coach Hugo Broos stated that each match will be challenging, and he anticipates his players will need to exert themselves if they aim to reach the goal of securing six points from the two encounters.
“As everybody knows, we have important games in front of us. It’s a key moment, I said that already before, if we can achieve two victories against Lesotho and Benin, then I think we can make a big step in qualification, certainly also taking account the other games in the group,” Broos said. “We will try to do it, and on the other side we know that these will be tough and difficult games.
“First up we have Lesotho on Friday (21 March). Lesotho is a team that fights for each other. They fight for each other, they fight for each meter and every ball, and they are playing against South Africa. So, I think they will try to do something more against South Africa and against other teams. So again, it will be a tough game,” concluded Broos.
Following their match against Lesotho on Friday, 21 March 2025, Bafana Bafana will travel to Abijan, Ivory Coast to face Benin on Tuesday, 25 March 2025 at Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Tickets for the South Africa vs Lesotho match can be purchased at Kwik Spar, SuperSpar Payzone, Power Fashion, Fresh Stop, SASOL, Glocell, and Jwayelani for R70.00 for adults and R40.00 for kids under 12. The match starts at 18:00, at Peter Mokaba Stadium.