In a significant and last-minute development for the South African national team, Bafana Bafana’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Lesotho has been moved from the Toyota Stadium to the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, both in Bloemfontein.
The decision was made after FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expressed serious concerns over the poor condition of the Toyota Stadium pitch, which had been hosting rugby matches.
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An Unsuitable Pitch and a Sudden Change
The initial venue, a 45,000-seat stadium, was deemed unsuitable to host a crucial World Cup qualifier after officials inspected the playing surface.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos confirmed the directive, stating as per SABC Sport, “We got the message on Saturday that we can’t play at the Free State Stadium because of the condition of the pitch. Lesotho also didn’t know anything about it, but both teams must now just accept it how it is.”
This change in venue was not entirely unexpected. Broos himself had expressed his dismay over the pitch’s condition last week after visiting the stadium.
“I went to go and see the pitch last week already, and it was really awful,” he said, citing his reasons for changing the team’s travel plans to Bloemfontein. Instead of an early arrival, Bafana Bafana assembled and began their preparations in Johannesburg.
Concerns about the Toyota Stadium’s pitch have been ongoing, with reports of players sustaining injuries at the venue during the 2025 COSAFA Cup and subsequent Currie Cup rugby fixtures.
What This Means for the Match
The new venue, the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, has a smaller capacity of 22,000, less than half the size of the original stadium. The match is scheduled for this Friday with kickoff at 6:00 PM.
With another critical qualifier against Nigeria set for next Tuesday, it remains unclear whether that match will also be affected. For now, Broos and the team are focused on the task at hand.