Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed absolute confidence that his side is mentally and physically prepared to secure all three points from their final and crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda this Tuesday.
While South Africa’s chances of automatic qualification were complicated after a disappointing goalless draw with Zimbabwe and a simultaneous 1-0 win for Benin over Rwanda, Broos insists his team has recovered and is focused on their job at the Mbombela Stadium.
Read: Ronwen Williams remains optimistic in 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers
Overcoming the Mental Hurdle
The national team boss acknowledged that the 0-0 result against Zimbabwe, which saw Benin leapfrog them into pole position, had a significant psychological impact on his squad.
“We needed some time after the game on Friday to recover, we didn’t expect to lose points against Zimbabwe, though we knew it would be tough,” Broos said, as quoted in The Citizen.
That being said, the coach praised his players’ resilience and ability to quickly shift their focus, noting a distinct change in mood:
“Already on Saturday afternoon I felt like things were changing in the camp. We had a light training session on Saturday evening and the atmosphere was totally different to 24 hours earlier. What I saw yesterday [Sunday] gives me confidence the players are ready for the game tomorrow. We are ready to play a good game, ready to win.”
The Two-Part Qualification Equation
The road to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is now a two-part equation for Bafana Bafana:
They Must Win: Broos’s side needs to beat Rwanda to maximize their points total.
They Must Hope: They then need to hope that Nigeria beats Benin in the simultaneous Group C fixture.
Broos emphasized that the team’s entire focus is on the first task, as the second is out of their hands.
“We have to focus only on ourselves. We can’t change or decide what happens on the other field in Nigeria. If we win, we have to wait and see. But I think all the things we want and have dreamed of can happen tomorrow.”
Concluding his pre-match presser, Broos invoked a touch of faith for the dramatic outcome: “We all know that [a win] could not be enough. So let’s hope on the other side the Gods are with us and we see the result everyone hopes for in Nigeria – that Benin lose the game.”
The decisive Group C encounter against Rwanda is scheduled for Tuesday evening with kick-off at 18:00 at the Mbombela Stadium.