Bafana Bafana Bafana in South Africa needs a vital victory against Lesotho while the teboho Mokoena punishment is looming

Friday, Bafana Bafana will face the Lesotho at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfontein (free state stadium) in a vital qualifier of the FIFA World Cup which is technically an outside game – but they will play on the lawn at home in South Africa.

Lesotho is one of the two independent countries sculpted within the borders of South Africa – the other being Eswatini. The Lesotho won independence in 1966 and borders three provinces – Cap Oriental, the native Kwazulu and the free state – where Friday’s match will be played.

The Lesotho lacks stages that meet international CAF and FIFA standards, which is why they have played home apparatus in South Africa.

The inverted match at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane ended with a 2-0 victory for Bafana Bafana, with goals from Reveohile Mofokeeng and Jayden Adams. However, this result could still be canceled following South Africa which feeds the ineligible Teboho Mokoena, which was supposed to miss the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Given that their five -point lead to the top of the World Cup qualification C could be reduced to two accordingly and it is one of the four remaining games for the Hugo Broos team, each victory is of vital importance.

There were questions about the aptitude of the field at Toyota Stadium, but he now had the green light to welcome the match and the subsequent qualifier of Bafana against Nigeria.

Key details

Date: Friday September 5 at 6 p.m. CAT (4 p.m. GMT, 12:00 pm)

Location: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

How to watch: the match is available on Supersport and Sabc 2

Team news:

As a result of striker Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi was a late withdrawal from the Bafana Bafana team with an injury taken from Orlando Pirates’ 3-0 victory against Chippa United on Sunday. He was replaced by his teammate Sipho Mbule – which is more a classic midfielder than a number 10.

IME Okon, who recently joined the German side of second level Hanover 96, is also injured and was replaced by the central defender of Stellenbosch FC Thabo Moloisane in a similar swap.

Expected alignments

South Africa

GK Ronwen Williams

LB Aubrey Modiba | CB Thank you for the note cb held hlanda | RB Niko Mobbie

CM Luke Le Roux | CM Teboho Mokoena

LW Grace Nkota | Am Resembohile Mofucheng | RW OSWIN Appollis

St Iqraam Rayners

Lesotho

GK Sekhoane Moerane

LB FUCE MATLABE | CB Thabo Makhele | CB Motlomoto Khazi | RB Thabang Malane

CM Hope Toloane | CM Lucky Fototho

LW Neo Mokhachane | Am sorry in the bat | RW KGMI MAKHETHA

St Kethiles

Statistics

The Lesotho only managed three shots and one on the target in the inverted match in March – a 2-0 defeat against Bafana Bafana.

In May 2025, Hugo Broos became the oldest head coach of Bafana Bafana ever – going beyond Clive Barker, who was at work for exactly four years.