Bafana must win and hope for help, admits coach Broos

BAFANA Bafana coach Hugo Broos has conceded that they can only focus on themselves heading into their last crucial Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Rwanda, and hope that the other game pans out in their favour.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

HUGO Broos admits Bafana Bafana need a miracle to reach the 2026 World Cup but insists the team must focus on winning against Rwanda. | Backpagepix

Bafana will face Rwanda in their last qualifier at Mbombela Stadium on tonight (6pm kickoff), needing to win at all costs, while primarily banking on Nigeria to beat Benin in the other match in order to finish top of Group C and automatically qualify for the global showpiece, which will be co-hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

That’s not the only permutation, though. Bafana can still qualify for the World Cup should they beat Rwanda convincingly with at least three goals and upwards, and the game between Nigeria and Benin end in a draw.

Bafana find themselves in need of intervention from the football gods after they were docked three points and handed a 3-0 defeat by Fifa after contravening the disciplinary code by fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their 2-0 win over Lesotho in the home qualifier in March.

They also didn't make things easier for themselves in the penultimate qualifier, as they dropped two crucial points during the goalless draw with neighbours Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night.