World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Zimbabwe-South Africa, likely lineups

The loss awarded to South Africa a few days ago by forfeit in the match with Lesotho (the presence of an undrafted player nullified the 2-0 on the field for the South Africans last March 21) complicates the Bafana Bafana&#8217s plans toward the 2026 World Cup in no small part: they will need to score more points than Benin and improve their overall goal difference in the last two matches to avoid the playoff obstacle toward the World Cup.

The Rainbow Nation team plays Friday against Zimbabwe: curiously enough, the formally home national team plays its matches in Durban, South Africa proper, because of the low FIFA standards of their country&#8217s stadiums, which are thus unable to host matches under the auspices of the international federation. The Zimbabwean Warriors are the tail end of Group C with just 4 points (no wins, four draws, four losses), the only team in the group arithmetically eliminated from contention for a place at the World Cup. Zimbabwe’s coach is globetrotting Michael Nees, formerly coach of Seychelles, Rwanda and the Under-21 national teams of Israel and Kosovo.

South Africa, bureaucratic flop with Lesotho aside, has lost only one other game in the group, against Rwanda on Nov. 21, 2023. The national team is led by Hugo Broos, a Belgian coach who has also led the Cameroon national team in Africa and, at club level, JS Kabylie and NAHD, both in Algeria. Brooh’s goal is to bring the South Africans back to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they were admitted directly as an organizing country. The’last actual qualification, however, was back in 2002.

Probable lineups

ZIMBABWE (4-3-3): Arubi; Jalai, Garananga, Takwara, Zemura; Munetsi, Nakamba, Musona; Maswanhise, Chirewa, Ngwenya. C.t. Nees.

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SOUTH AFRICA (4-2-3-1): Williams; Mudau, Modiba, Mbokazi, Kabini; Mokoena, Aubaas; Nkota, Mbule, Appollis; Foster. C.t. Broos.