Bafana Bafana update: Six new players called up
Hugo Broos has named his strong 37-man preliminary Bafana Bafana squad which includes six uncapped players.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced a 37-man preliminary squad, featuring six new call-ups, for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.
The squad is once again dominated by Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns players. A total of 17 players come from these teams while Broos called on six new players.
Bafana host Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, on 21 March 2025 (kick off is at 18h00) and then travel to Côte d’Ivoire to face Benin on 25 March 2025. The Beninese will host the South African men’s senior national team in Côte d’Ivoire after their home grounds were deemed unsuitable for international matches.
Broos names six new players in his Bafana squad
The team will report for camp in Johannesburg on Monday 17 March 2025 and then travel to Polokwane on the same day. After hosting Lesotho on 21 March, Broos and his charges will travel to Abidjan the next day on a charter flight to face Benin in the away match. They return to South Africa on 26 March 2025.
The six new Bafana players included are Samukelo Kabini, Khulekani Ndamane (both TS Galaxy), Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City), Deano Van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates), Siphesihle Mkhize (Sekhukhune United) and Ashley Cupido and Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch).