Ngezana: Bafana Under Pressure To Qualify For World Cup
Bafana Bafana defender Siyabonga Ngezana has admitted the team is under immense pressure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having not done so on merit in 23 years. The last time they participated was as the host nation in 2010.
Bafana Bafana currently controls their destiny, sitting at the top of Group C with 13 points from six matches.
The team will continue its World Cup qualifying campaign in the coming days, facing Lesotho at Dr. Molemela Stadium on Friday before hosting Nigeria at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday.
Securing six points from these two matches would put Bafana Bafana in a strong position to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup finals. Their chances are boosted by the fact that all four of their remaining qualifiers, including two in October, will likely be played on home soil.
“It is clear that we have a pressure,” said Ngezana, who plays for FCSB in Romania.
“We have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup for so many years, not to mention 2010, because we played there since we were hosts. To qualify with results, it has been a long time. So, we have a chance, a good chance, and so far, so good. We just need to focus on the upcoming games, and if we take maximum points, I think things will go well for us.”
Despite their strong position, Ngezana, who also helped Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, warned against underestimating Lesotho.
“I agree with the coach [Hugo Broos]; you can’t underestimate your opponents. You need to respect them, and you need to show them that on the pitch,” said the former Kaizer Chiefs defender.
“Lesotho has a great squad and familiar faces that play in the PSL, and it won’t be a walk in the park. It’s going to be a competitive game, and we need to bring our ‘A’ game as well. But I have so much confidence in this squad because they have proven before that they can compete.”
Bafana’s Home Advantage
Bafana Bafana has an impressive track record in recent home qualifiers, having won all seven of their World Cup qualifying matches since a 2017 loss to Senegal.
That game, played at Peter Mokaba Stadium, was a replay ordered by FIFA after the Ghanaian referee, Joseph Lamptey, was found guilty of match-fixing in the original fixture a year earlier.
