Broos: We need this many points to qualify for World Cup

Broos: We need this many points to qualify for World Cup
Hugo Broos during the 2024 CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakesh, Morocco on 16 December 2024 ©BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Feb 02, 2025. 12:56

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has outlined what it will take for his team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.


South Africa occupy second place in CAF Group C of qualifying after four matches and find themselves in a three-way tie with Rwanda and Benin on seven points.


With the global showpiece having been expanded to 48 teams, Africa will be guaranteed nine spots as the winner of each qualifying group will now progress to the finals.


After guiding his side to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without losing a single game, Broos has mapped out a course to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2010 when they qualified as hosts.


Bafana Bafana will entertain neighbours Lesotho in Polokwane on March 17 before making the trip to Ivory Coast for a clash with the Cheetahs seven days later.


“We now have seven points, and then I count six (in March), it’s 13. And then we have four games, which tally up to 12 points. I think if you have 16-17 points, you have qualified,” Broos told journalists this week.


“All the teams are still in the running. Therefore, March can be a key month, and things will be a little bit clearer. And then after that, we can say, for example, Rwanda is out. Again, that’s why it’s very important to win the two games (against Lesotho and Benin).”


The Belgian tactician has urged South Africans to temper their expectations should the national team achieve its target in October, suggesting a place in the last-16 will be a respectable outcome.


“You know we have to be realistic. If tomorrow South Africa qualifies for the World Cup, we don’t have to talk about quarter-finals and semi-finals,” Broos added.


“I think if we go to the World Cup, like I said with AFCON, we need to have the ambition to pass the group stage. And then you play against Argentina, a big team, or Brazil, and then you go home [as a proud team in the end].”






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