World Cup 2026: Lyle Foster must not be South Africa’s leading striker – Benedict Vilakazi

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Benedict Vilakazi has raised concerns over Lyle Foster being trusted as South Africa’s first-choice striker heading into their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico.

Foster has been a regular feature up front since returning to the national team setup after previously making himself unavailable for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where Bafana Bafana secured a third-place finish — their best result in 24 years.

The Burnley forward started every match for South Africa at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, but the team fell short of expectations, exiting in the round of 16 after a defeat to Cameroon.

His position in the squad has also been under scrutiny, with growing debate over the omission of one of the Premier Soccer League’s standout forwards, Iqraam Rayners of Mamelodi Sundowns.

The striker was left out of earlier warm-up fixtures against Panama before eventually being included in the final World Cup squad.

Foster has also faced criticism for recent performances, including a missed penalty in a goalless draw against Nicaragua in a preparatory fixture before the team travelled to North America.

Vilakazi believes the discussion should go beyond selection preference, arguing that current form does not justify Foster’s status as the team’s main attacking option.

Speaking on the Omniaudioafrica YouTube channel, he said statistical output should carry significant weight in selection decisions.

“You guys showed me the stats when Foster was scoring and raised my hands and said ‘I agree with you guys’ let him be our number one (striker) but now the stats, they don’t agree with what is happening in the national team,” Vilakazi said.

“If you want to select players based on stats, some players are not supposed to be in the national team. Because right now as we speak, the stats don’t allow Foster to be our (number one) striker.”

Tso, as Vilakazi is also known, said the abovementioned stats also rule out Pirates Evidence Makgopa to lead the line.”

Vilakazi, also known as “Tso,” further argued that the same logic would rule out Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa from leading the attack, insisting that the system must be built to maximise service to forwards.

“You can only have Rayners. If you’re not going to use those wingers and a number 10 to create chances and score, we’re going to be in trouble, that’s my worry,” Vilakazi said.

Foster, who scored three goals in a Premier League campaign that ended in relegation for Burnley, remains central to South Africa’s preparations despite the growing debate over the team’s attacking hierarchy.