Pirates’ Makgopa returns as Broos names provisional Bafana squad

Hugo Broos has recalled Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa to a 44-man provisional Bafana Bafana squad, named by the Bafana head coach on Tuesday for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.

Bafana will open their Group C campaign against Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on the weekend of November 17 to 19 and will then travel to Rwanda to take on the Central African side on November 21.

Makgopa has recently returned to the Pirates starting line-up, and while he ha scored only once this season, Broos has utilised the qualities of the Buccaneers striker before, using him in five of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. Makgopa even scored against Ethiopia away in a 3-1 win, but subsequently lost his Bafana place due to lack of game time – he barely played for Pirates last season.

New faces

The squad is set to be trimmed to 23 players in the next week or so, but there are also some new faces in the enlarged squad. Golden Arrows have been recognised for their fine start to the season with the inclusion of defensive pairing Bradley Cross and Themba Mantshinyane.

Cross, 22, was formerly in the youth set up at English Premier League side Newcastle United, but has returned to South Africa, and after being relegated last season with Maritzburg United, has reignited his career at Arrows, who are currently second in the DStv Premiership.

Mantshinyane, 27, is an Arrows stalwart, in his third season with the club, and has also been rewarded for consistent displays this season.

Other fresh faces in the squad include Stellenbosch midfielder Jayden Adams, Polokwane City attacker Oswin Appollos and Sekhukhune United forward Elias Mokwana. It will be surprising, however, if any of these players make the final cut.

Bafana Squad: