South Africa coach, Hugo Broos, has named his final 23-man squad that will face the Super Eagles in the June 7th World Cup qualifier in Uyo. The same selection will be used for the other qualifier at home against Zimbabwe Foster in his final 23-man squad for next month’s huge 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria away and Zimbabwe at home.
According to South African media, the Belgian coach continued to overlook in-form Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, the gaffer deciding to stick to the strikers he’s worked with.
Mabasa ended top scorer in the Premiership with 16 goals, one ahead of Stellenbosch FC’s Iqraam Rayners, who got the nod alongside Burnley’s Foster, Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Patrick Maswanganyi, Elias Mokwana and Relebogile Mofokeng in the forwards.
Lyle Foster of the recently relegated Burnley in the English Premier League is a major inclusion. He was excluded in the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 squad on health ground.
Broos reportedly explained that the health issues were a thing of the past as he also had discussions with Burnley before including the striker again.
“His health problems are over,” the coach stated as he announced his squad on SABC Sport.
“And I know I was at one stage very unhappy because we got the news Lyle was not ready and had a mental problem and suddenly he started playing with Burnley (ahead of AFCON).
“So, we had contact with (the club in) England again and they said, ‘Yeah, but he’s not ready’. And also Lyle wrote a letter to us that he did not want to go to Afcon. That’s why he was not with us in Ivory Coast.
“After that, for [the friendlies against Andorra and Algeria] in March I made contact again and again they said, ‘No — its better you don’t call him because he’s still not 100 per cent.’
“But he still played every game for Burnley, so it was not easy to accept that. But OK, I followed the medical reasons for why I couldn’t take him.“But now, everything was OK. I phoned him [Foster] and we had a good chat. I called (then still Burnley manager Vincent) Kompany and we had a good chat. So there are no problems anymore and that’s the reason Lyle is with us again.”
South Africa are in second place in Group C on three points while leaders Rwanda are on four. Nigeria, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have two points and Benin one.
