Mothwa – Bafana ‘will be there’ at the 2026 Fifa World Cup

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Veli Mothwa has ‘no doubt’ that South Africa will qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Mothwa was part of Hugo Broos’ Bafana squad that failed to make it to Qatar 2022, narrowly losing their final group stage match to Ghana in controversial circumstances, to end their chances of qualifying.

This time, in an expanded World Cup in 2026, there are more places than ever available to African teams, but it is still a tough task for Bafana to make it, needing to win a group containing the Super Eagles of Nigeria, neighbours Zimbabwe and Lesotho, and Benin and Rwanda, to guarantee their place.

These last two countries form Bafana’s first two Group C opponents. Today South Africa face Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and on Tuesday they travel to Butare to take on Rwanda.

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Bafana’s Group C campaign could not have got off to much a better start, frankly, without them even playing, as Nigeria were held to a shock 1-1 draw at home to Lesotho on Thursday, while Rwanda and Zimbabwe drew 0-0.

“We are determined. If you take a look at the group of players now, most of us were there and felt the pain of not making it to the World Cup (in 2022),” said Mothwa this week.

“This time it’s different, we know who we are and what we can do and come 2026 we will be there. I have no doubt in my mind about that, I believe that.”

“There’s a lot of pressure on the national team. It’s about winning the first two games (against Benin and Rwanda) and not just performing well, but walking away from the games victorious.”

“These games are not friendlies, these games determine so much and require so much from us as well. So we have to apply ourselves in every aspect, mentally and physically. 

“Some of us come from back-to-back games in our league and continental competitions, so there’s a delicate balance when it comes to sufficient rest as well.”

Mothwa is unlikely to feature in either match, given that Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is in his position. But there are other more pressing concerns for Broos, particularly in attack, with Lyle Foster, Lebo Mothiba and Thapelo Maseko all out of the reckoning.

Still, with Al Ahly’s Percy Tau, Mamelodi Sundowns’ Themba Zwane, US-based Bongokuhle Hlongwane, and Orlando Pirates’ Evidence Makgopa in the squad, Broos still has plenty of experience to call up front, as Bafana look to get off to a flyer.