Hugo Broos is thrilled with the return of key players Mothobi Mvala, Siyabonga Ngezana, and Thalente Mbatha for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
South Africa will face Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday (15h00) in their penultimate Group K fixture, needing only two points to secure qualification. The campaign will conclude against South Sudan at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday (15h00).
Mvala, who had been sidelined by injury since June, last appeared for Bafana in a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe. His recovery comes at a pivotal moment for the national team.
Meanwhile, Ngezana and Mbatha were absent from Bafana’s previous outing, a 1-1 draw against Congo in October.
Reflecting on the team’s draw in Congo, Bafana coach Broos acknowledged the challenges but saw the return of these players as a boost. “Our last game in Congo wasn’t our best,” Broos admitted.
“We have some players back that we didn’t have in Congo, like Ngezana, Mvala, and Mbatha. With them in the group, my confidence is high,” he added.
Broos was particularly pleased to see Mvala back in action with his club, Mamelodi Sundowns, after an extended absence.
“Mothobi isn’t the flashiest player, but he has been crucial for us in the past. Not having him in Congo was a real loss because he’s the type of player who can make a difference in tough games,” Broos explained.
Looking ahead, Broos was candid about the stakes, emphasizing that failure to qualify would be disappointing after Bafana’s third-place finish in the last AFCON.
“As the bronze medallists from the last tournament, it would be a shame if we don’t qualify, especially given the opponents in our group. They’re respectable, but not Africa’s biggest teams,” he concluded.
The upcoming matches offer South Africa a chance to secure their place in Morocco for the AFCON finals, set to run from December 2025 to January 2026.