Bafana Bafana’s away games crucial in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers - Hugo Broos

Broos was reacting to the CAF World Cup qualifiers draw conducted in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday, with Bafana falling in Group C alongside old rivals Nigeria, neighbours Zimbabwe and Lesotho, as well as Benin and Rwanda. 

The Belgian tactician highlighted the importance of collecting points from away matches if the team is to qualify for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. 

"If you look at the group of the draw for the World Cup 2026, I think we don't really have the most difficult group. On the other side, there are some tricky games in it," said Broos.

"First of all, Nigeria are a very good team, always qualifying for AFCON, so it will be tough games against them. But don't forget two of our neighbours are in our group – Lesotho and Zimbabwe, who will be very motivated to beat South Africa, so our away games will be very tough.

"And then there are still two other teams in Benin and Rwanda – not the most difficult and best teams of Africa, but their away games are always tricky.

"I think it will be very important in our group not only to win our homes games, and I think that may not be a problem, but the away games is something that will decide who will be first in our group."

Bafana last played in the World Cup on home soil in 2010 and have failed to qualify for the tournament since 2002, when it was hosted in South Korea and Japan. 

The road to 2026 will commence with a double game-week in November this year, before taking a break until matchday three and four resumes in June 2024.