Neighbours Lesotho and Bafana turn rivals in Fifa World Cup qualifiers
South Africa will seek to inch closer to Fifa World Cup qualification as Bafana Bafana face Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday. Kick-off is at 6pm CAT, live on SuperSport.
CURRENT FORM
Lesotho sit in fifth place in group C of the Fifa World Cup African qualifiers, two points above Zimbabwe at the bottom.
The Crocodiles have won one match, drawn three and lost two.
The land-locked nation’s last round of fixtures came in the Cosafa Cup where it managed a 1-0 win against Malawi before conceding a combined seven goals without answer against Angola and Namibia, failing to advance past the group stage.
After a rocky start to their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign, Bafana Bafana sit atop group C in the African qualifiers with 13 points from six fixtures.
This week, the race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes center stage on SuperSport.
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 1, 2025
We're bringing you 𝐀𝐋𝐋 of the Africa qualifiers 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 on your World of Champions, including the 𝐁𝐈𝐆 clash between South Africa and Nigeria.#AfricaWCQ pic.twitter.com/Jsh1rVdcY8
The group leaders are followed by Rwanda and Benin, who both have eight points.
South Africa has won each of its last three qualifiers, beating Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Benin by a margin of two goals.
TEAM NEWS
Sipho Mbule and Thabo Moloisane joined the Bafana Bafana camp on Monday to replace the injured Patrick Maswanganyi and Ime Okon.
Sipho Mbule has been called up to the Bafana Bafana camp to replace his injured club teammate, Patrick Maswanganyi.
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 1, 2025
Thabo Moloisane also joins the squad, replacing Ime Okon.#AfricaWCQ pic.twitter.com/ospHkJGcHA
WHAT WAS SAID
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos stated that his side cannot afford to underestimate Lesotho if they are to claim three points from their clash.
“We are still strong enough to beat Lesotho, but again, we have to focus and we have to concentrate,” said Broos.
"With Mbule, we have the right player in the right position."
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 2, 2025
Ahead of Bafana Bafana's crucial #AfricaWCQ against Lesotho and Nigeria, Hugo Broos explains Sipho Mbule's call-up👇 pic.twitter.com/rBtQpGkcgS
“We have to reach our level best, and we have to fight. Playing a good game of football is okay when we can do it, why shouldn’t we do it, but let’s start from the first game, from the first minute and fight for every second, for every square metre on the pitch and try to win that game. It would be a very good situation for us if we could win the game on Friday.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lesotho - Katleho Makateng: 26-year old Katleho Makateng knows his opposition well, having spent two seasons at Richards Bay in the Betway Premiership. The centre forward has bagged three goals in 11 caps for his country and will be looking to add to his tally.
South Africa - Lyle Foster: Lyle Foster bagged his first Premier League goal of the season for Burnley against Manchester United last Saturday. The 25-year-old has six goals in 18 appearances for the national side and will look to keep his momentum rolling.
HEAD-TO-HEAD (last five meetings)
- Lesotho wins: 2
- South Africa wins: 2
- Draws: 1
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