WATCH: "Lesotho will be a completely different challenge" - Broos

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has announced his squad for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

South Africa will travel to Bloemfontein to face Lesotho at the Free State Stadium on Friday, 5 September 2025, before hosting Nigeria at the same venue four days later on Tuesday, 9 September.

Broos stressed that his players need no extra motivation for such crucial fixtures, with World Cup qualification on the line.

“When you know the World Cup is within reach, what greater motivation is there?” he said. “For many of these players, it could be their first — and possibly last — chance to play at a World Cup. Qualifying in Africa is extremely tough, so every match demands a fight. Don’t think it will be easy, even if last year we beat Congo 5-0 when no one expected it. Lesotho will be a completely different challenge.”