Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says South Africa’s World Cup qualifying group is winnable, although he has warned playing neighbours Lesotho and Zimbabwe could be trickier assignments than they sound.
South Africa were drawn in Group C of the CAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup alongside Nigeria, Rwanda, Benin, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
The 2026 event is being hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the USA and there could be as many as 10 African teams present. In all there are nine qualifying groups for Africa, and the winner of each will advance to the showpiece event.
Additionally, the four best runners-up will advance to a playoff to determine who will be the CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs.
Reflecting on the draw Broos said: “When you look at our group, I think we are not in a really difficult group. At the same time, there’ll be some tricky games.
“First of all, Nigeria is a very good team who’ve always qualified for Afcon, so it will be tough games against them. Our neighbours Zimbabwe and Lesotho will be very, very motivated to beat SA.
"𝗜'𝗠 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧"
— #UNPLAYABLE (@UnplayableZA) July 14, 2023
"I think it is possible for SA to qualify for the 2026 World Cup first in the group... We are better now, we have a better team now. So okay, I'm confident" - #Bafana coach, Hugo Broos.
SA is in Group C with Nigeria, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda & Lesotho. pic.twitter.com/rhEaC6viYx
“There are still two other teams in Benin and Rwanda, not the most difficult and not the best teams of Africa but away games are always tricky.
“I think it will be very important to not only win at home. Away games will decide who wins the group. We will have to go for the first place so that we don’t have to play in the play-offs again afterwards,” he said.
The first fixtures of the qualifying group will be played in November.
