• Sunday, December 22, 2024
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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: South Africa coach names squad for Nigeria cracker

South Africa-Hugo Broos

South Africa's Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos

South Africa‘s Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, has announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Last week, the Belgian tactician unveiled a 36-man preliminary squad for the two games but has since reduced it to 23 players, dropping 13 from the initial list.

The squad includes several regular stars such as captain Rowan Williams, Al Ahly forward Percy Tau, and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena. New standout faces in the squad include Siyabonga Ngezana, Relebohile Mofokeng, and returnee Lyle Foster.

South Africa currently sits in second place in Group C with three points, and the Super Eagles of Nigeria are third with two points from two matches. The group also includes Rwanda, Benin Republic, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.

The team that tops the group will automatically qualify for the first 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Also, the four best runners-up across all groups will enter a playoff to decide one side to contest a six-team intercontinental tournament.

Nigeria will face South Africa on Friday, June 7 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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