Midfielder Malibongwe Khoza has been named in coach Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad to face Nigeria and Lesotho in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The Bafana Bafana will be away to Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, Free State, on Friday, 5 September 2025 before hosting Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the same venue on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. Both matches will be played at 18h00.
Khoza was part of the South Africa team that featured at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) where his team played in Group C alongside co-hosts Uganda, Niger, Guinea and Algeria.
Despite not making it out of the group, Khoza as one of the positive stories for South Africa at the tournament.
It is not surprising that is the only player from the CHAN team that has earned a slot into the main team.
Bafana Bafana are top of Group C in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with 13 points after six matches and they are followed by second-placed Rwanda and Benin, who are both on eight points. The Nigerians are fourth with seven points followed by Lesotho (six points) and Zimbabwe (four points).
