Bafana Bafana have reportedly lined up two friendlies for June as coach Hugo Broos seeks to maintain the side’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers momentum.
While the South African Football Association (SAFA) have yet to confirm the exact fixtures, the matches are within the FIFA window allocated for friendly matches in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) zone.
Mninawa Ntloko, spokesperson for SAFA, told Independent Media: “We haven’t announced anything.”
The fixtures against Tanzania and Namibia present a crucial opportunity for Broos to evaluate his squad ahead of the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers later this year.
Both matches are set to be played locally, with Tanzania first up on June 6, before SA take on Namibia four days later on June 10.
These friendlies precede the World Cup qualifiers, which are scheduled to resume in September and October, and will be played before the start of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 14.
Mamelodi Sundowns will play in this prestigious tournament in the United States, making it paramount for their players to remain focused on club commitments during this period.
Broos has already made it clear that no Sundowns players will be selected for the upcoming friendlies to allow them to concentrate fully on their Club World Cup preparations.
This decision will place a sharp focus on assessing alternative squad options.
These matches will enable Broos to delve into the depth and versatility of the national team set-up.
Presently, Bafana Bafana sit at the top of their World Cup qualifying group, making these friendlies an essential test as the team gears up for competitive action against Lesotho on September 5 and Nigeria just a few days later in what will be a pivotal encounter.
In October, South Africa play two World Cup qualifiers.
First up will be neighbouring Zimbabwe on October 10. This match was initially slated to be played in South Africa, but will be hosted in Rwanda instead.
South Africa return home to host Rwanda on October 14.
CAF and FIFA have imposed stadium bans on Zimbabwe and Lesotho due to their failure to meet stadium requirements.
Beyond these friendlies and qualifiers, a friendly for November 15 is in the pipeline ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which kicks off in Morocco on December 22.
Bafana Bafana’s group stage opponents will be Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe, adding weight to the significance of the upcoming friendlies and their overall preparation strategy.
With the next six months packed with high-stakes matches and tournament preparations, the friendlies will serve as a crucial stepping stone and set the tone for the road ahead.