South Africa’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers have been dealt a blow as Burnley striker Lyle Foster suffered an injury on Tuesday night.
The setback raises concerns over his availability for the crucial matches against Lesotho and Benin.
Foster, who has been an integral part of Bafana Bafana’s attack, was introduced as a second-half substitute during Burnley’s Championship fixture against West Bromwich Albion at Turf Moor.
However, he lasted just 24 minutes before being forced off in the 87th minute. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Zian Flemming cancelling out John Swift’s opener.
Burnley manager Scott Parker, who was sent off during the game, had hoped Foster would provide an attacking spark, but his early exit left fans and South Africa’s national team staff worried about the severity of the injury.
The extent of the damage is yet to be determined, with further assessments expected in the coming days.
Foster’s fitness has been a concern throughout the season. The former Orlando Pirates forward had already missed 13 matches due to a knee injury sustained during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
His latest setback comes at a time when he was regaining form, having ended a scoring drought and contributing three goals and four assists in 26 appearances this season.
Burnley, currently third in the Championship play-off spots, remain in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, trailing leaders Sheffield United by two points and second-placed Leeds United by one. Losing Foster at this stage of the season could prove costly for both club and country.
The 23-year-old was named in South Africa coach Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad for the World Cup qualifiers, with the final squad set to be announced on Thursday.
Bafana Bafana are tied on seven points with Rwanda and Benin in Group C, making the upcoming fixtures against Lesotho on March 21 and Benin on March 25 in Ivory Coast crucial for their qualification hopes.
With Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho also in the group, South Africa’s path to the World Cup remains tightly contested. Foster’s availability could be a decisive factor as Bafana Bafana aim to strengthen their position in the standings.
