Gould Backs Bafana To Qualify For 2026 FIFA World Cup
Former Bafana Bafana defender Morgan Gould has urged South Africans not to worry about the national team’s chances of qualifying for next year’s World Cup, expressing confidence that they will secure a spot.
Gould emphasized that the team’s success is due to its “quality players” and “quality coach,” Hugo Broos. Broos, who won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Cameroon, took over the South African team in May 2021 when it was struggling after failing to qualify for the 2022 AFCON.
Broos vowed to lead the team to the next AFCON or resign.
The team not only qualified but also went on to win the bronze medal at the tournament for the first time in 24 years. This impressive performance has put South Africa on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana Bafana’s path to qualification
South Africa is currently at the top of Group C with 16 points after seven matches, a five-point lead over second-placed Benin. The team secured a crucial victory against Lesotho at Toyota Stadium on Friday.
On Tuesday, Bafana Bafana will host Nigeria at Free State Stadium at 18:00. A win in this match would significantly boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
Gould, who was part of the 2010 World Cup squad when South Africa hosted the tournament, said the current team should stick to their winning formula.
He advised them to maintain the same mentality they had during the qualification campaign and at the AFCON tournament.
“They don’t need to do anything different,” Gould stated. “Nigeria is Nigeria. If you are playing Lesotho, take the same mentality, put it together and let’s go forward.”
In the African qualifiers, only the group winners automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The four best-placed runners-up will get a second chance via a play-off round.
