South Africa is preparing for a critical phase in its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign by scheduling two friendly matches in June. These games are aimed at keeping the Bafana Bafana squad sharp ahead of their upcoming qualifiers.
The South African team currently leads Group C, ahead of Nigeria and several other nations vying for a spot in the global tournament to be hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
While official confirmation of the friendlies is still pending, the South African Football Association is reportedly arranging matches against Tanzania and Namibia during the international window permitted by FIFA for African teams.
The first match is expected to take place on June 6 against Tanzania, followed by a clash with Namibia on June 10. Both games are set to be hosted locally. These encounters will give Coach Hugo Broos a chance to assess player performance and team dynamics before the qualifiers resume in September.
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South Africa will face Lesotho on September 5 and Nigeria shortly afterward in what is shaping up to be a decisive showdown. In October, the team will meet Zimbabwe on October 10 — a game relocated to Rwanda due to stadium bans — before playing Rwanda at home on October 14.
In addition, another friendly is being considered for November 15 to help the team prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begins on December 22 in Morocco. South Africa has been drawn in a tough AFCON group with Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.
With a busy schedule ahead, the upcoming friendlies are expected to play a vital role in building momentum and ensuring the squad is ready for the intense challenges to come.