2026 World Cup: Hugo Broos agonises over Thapelo Morena omission after late injury verdict

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has admitted that the decision to leave Thapelo Morena out of South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad was one of the most difficult calls of his tenure, triggered by a late medical ruling that ruled the player out of contention for the tournament opener in North America.

The final 26-man squad was confirmed at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Wednesday, with Morena among six players who missed out after being included in the preliminary list.

South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, a high-profile opener that intensified the urgency around final selection decisions.

Broos explained that the situation remained uncertain until the final hours of deliberation, following an additional scan that clarified the severity of the issue.

“We took the decision yesterday [Wednesday] at 4pm. We knew Thapelo was injured but we didn’t know everything to decide early that he won’t go with us to Mexico,” the coach said.

The squad announcement came only after medical confirmation that Morena would not be available in time for the early stages of the tournament, forcing the technical team into a late adjustment.

Broos explains painful call

Addressing the emotional weight of the decision, Broos admitted the conversation with the player was particularly difficult, given Morena’s influence within the squad and his proven ability to change matches.

“It was an emotional moment for me because I know he is someone who can change the game. He has done it in the past for us where he was an important player, not only when he started the game, but when he came off the bench.

“It was a hard decision to make. It was not my heart that decided, it is always my brain and that was certainly the case when we took the decision with Thapelo.”

Morena had been part of South Africa’s recent successes under Broos, including their third-place finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where his versatility and reliability made him a trusted tactical option.

However, recurring injury setbacks in recent months ultimately worked against him, with the coaching staff concluding that the risk of taking an unfit player into a demanding tournament was too high.

Squad reshuffle and medical reality

Morena, who last featured in the Betway Premiership draw between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs on May 6, has been replaced in the squad by Kamogelo Sebelebele.

Other players who missed out include Brandon Petersen, Thabiso Monyane, Lebohang Maboe, Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Patrick Maswanganyi.

South African Football Association medical chief Dr Thulani Ngwenya revealed the extent of the efforts made to get Morena fit, describing the process as unprecedented in his career.

“At around 4pm, [team doctor] Dr Thulani Ngwenya came to my room and together with [Bafana assistant coach] Helman Mkhalele and the physical coach he gave us the medical report. We didn’t see the opportunity to take Thapelo with us.

“In the next two weeks, he will not be able to train with the team, and if you consider that, it was not a good idea to take him to the World Cup with us.”

Ngwenya added that a final rescan on Wednesday confirmed the decision, ending hopes of a late recovery and sealing a difficult but necessary squad adjustment for South Africa’s World Cup journey.