Bafana stutter in road to 2026

Bafana Bafana were shocked 2-0 by minnows Rwanda in Butare in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday afternoon.

South Africa had the opportunity to go to the top of Group C after group favourites Nigeria drew with Lesotho and Zimbabwe, respectively.

Hugo Broos’ charges suffered their first shocking defeat in over a year and five months.

Innocent Nashuti and Gilbert Mugisha found the net for the Central East Africans after errors from Nkosinathi Sibisi and Khuliso Mudau, respectively, in the first half.

Broos questioned how a match of a high calibre could be played on an artificial pitch.

In the first half, the match was marred by the waterlogged artificial surface as South Africa struggled to make any significant attempts at goal.

“When you see the first 20 minutes it’s unbelievable that a qualifier of a World Cup is played on such a pitch,” Broos said after the game.

“It’s impossible. But okay, it is what it is and I think FIFA has to be stricter on the rules where you going to play.

“When you see the first 20 minutes it’s unbelievable that a qualifier of a World Cup is played on such a pitch,” Broos said after the game.

“We are talking about professional football, we’re talking about qualifiers of the biggest tournament, then you play on such a pitch,” he added.

The Bafana coach believes it’s abnormal for a team to arrive in a country and then travel three hours with a bus before arriving at the final destination.

“I will not say it’s the reason we lost the game. Not at all. But I think those things have to change, we’re in 2023.”

Rwanda currently sit on top of Group C with four points from their opening two games, while Bafana are in second with three points.

South Africans, as always, are expressing their views on the outcome of the match on social media. Article by Ntsako Mkhari

I am not shaken, Bafana Bafana will qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and we will top this group too!🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦⚽️

— Online Sporting Director (@ThabisoMishack) November 21, 2023

Congratulations to Rwanda National Soccer Team (Amavubi) on beating Bafana Bafana of South Africa! Everything Works if the Politics is Right! #VisitRwanda pic.twitter.com/aw9M5fi8iG

— African (@ali_naka) November 21, 2023

Mina I forgive Bafana Bafana today. Those Rwandans play on that kak pitch all the time. Our players aren’t used to playing in a swimming pool. We can do better on our defence no
doubt. Taking it on the chin and moving on.

— MoFlava (@moflavadj) November 21, 2023

Surprise. Surprise. 🤯🤯

HT: Rwanda 🇷🇼 2-0 🇿🇦 South Africa

Very interesting scoreline in Huye in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Can Amavubi hold on in the second half or will Bafana Bafana bounce back? pic.twitter.com/fCz5epU67n

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) November 21, 2023

Even if Bafana Bafana played another 90 min against Rwanda, they will not win this game…. Poor performance from the boys today! The pitch was pathetic! Mistakes from the defence was too childish! We didn’t do anything first half!

Hopefully we will do better next time! 😭🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/bsne28I1xO

— Cellular® (@Cellular_jnr) November 21, 2023

Not sure if all the sweeping will clear a waterlogged pitch come the whistle for the second half @CAF_Online @FIFAcom pic.twitter.com/FrCbqSuyc8

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 21, 2023

Bafana Bafana will forever prove Fikile Mbalula statement to be correct and always relevant. 🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/IgtB5exjOH

— m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) November 21, 2023