South Africa coach Hugo Broos justifies Sipho Mbule’s call up ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Head coach of the South African national team, Hugo Broos has explained his decision to include Sipho Mbule in his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying games.

Mbule, who plies his trade for Orlando Pirates has been rewarded with another call up for the must-win clashes against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

With Themba Zwane injured and Patrick Maswanganyi out of form, Broos has revealed what he told Mbule ahead of AFCON 2025 in December.

“I told him, Sipho, when he came on camp, I said, ‘Sipho, this is a second chance you get. Don’t spoil it’,” he said on SABC1.

“He did what we asked from him, and I give him the confidence again to be with us again and to do the same thing again? And it should help us. It should help the team enormously.”

The Bafana Bafana face an uphill task to secure qualification to the biggest soccer mundial to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico, following FIFA sanction.

South Africa are now second in Group C after being declared losers in their game against Lesotho back in March 2025 despite their 2-1 win.

Hugo Broos’ side were docked three goals and three goals for fielding an unqualified player, Teboho Mokoena despite being suspended due to yellow cards accumulation.

South Africa have their destiny in their own hands and must approach the final two games with all seriousness.

The Bafana Bafana will play host to Zimbabwe on October 10 in Johannesburg before traveling to Kigali for the final round of games, four days later.

Benin currently sit top in Group C with 14 points, while South Africa occupies second with similar points.