17 March 2025 – Bafana Bafana arrived in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Monday ahead of the crunch FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho on Friday and Benin next Tuesday.
Broos’ charges resume the World Cup qualifiers when they host neighbours at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Human Rights Day, Friday, 21 March 2025. They then fly to Côte d’Ivoire by charter to face Benin in the second qualifier a few days later.
Coach Hugo Broos said both matches will be tough and he expects his charges to dig deep if they are to achieve the target of amassing six points from the two games.
“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,” he 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. 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.
“And then we have the game outside of the country against Benin. The only advantage we have here is that Benin are playing in Ivory Coast, so a big crowd and their supporters will not be there. That is a little advantage for us.”
Broos also revealed that Polokwane City midfielder Ndamulelo Maphangule has been called up to replace the injured Patrick Maswanganyi. Maphangule has already joined the camp in Polokwane.
