Bafana Bafana face Zimbabwe in a must-win showdown to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification dream alive, with defeat potentially ending their hopes of progressing to next year’s competition.

After FIFA’s decision to dock Bafana Bafana three points for fielding Teboho Mokoena while suspended, Group C has been thrown wide open. Hugo Broos’s men now sit level on 14 points with Benin, separated only by goal difference, while Nigeria trail both sides on 11. With two matches left against Zimbabwe and Rwanda Bafana can still top the group, but only if they avoid further slip-ups.

Broos will be relieved to have Mokoena available again, with the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder expected to start alongside Bathusi Aubaas and Sipho Mbule. Burnley’s Lyle Foster will lead the line, supported by Evidence Makgopa, who replaces the injured Iqraam Rayners. Kaizer Chiefs youngster Mduduzi Shabalala comes into the squad after Relebohile Mofokeng was ruled out, while Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba are expected to anchor the defence.

Zimbabwe have already been eliminated but have named an experienced squad including Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, and Wolves midfielder Marshall Munetsi. Michael Nees’s side have yet to win in qualifying, collecting four draws and four defeats, and sit bottom of the group. Despite their struggles, they are capable of frustrating opponents and will treat this as a chance to finish the campaign on a high.

Bafana Bafana have dominated recent meetings between the sides, winning three in a row, including a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
South Africa are expected to dominate possession and push for an early breakthrough. Anything less than three points, however, would make their qualification path far more complicated ahead of next week’s decisive meeting with Rwanda.

Their last World Cup appearance came in 2010, and with strong home support in Durban, they will aim to edge closer to breaking that 16-year wait.

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