Broos: Deducted Points Will Drive Bafana to World Cup Glory

South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a dramatic twist this week, but head coach Hugo Broos insists the team will use the setback as fuel to finish strong.

Following FIFA’s decision to overturn Bafana Bafana’s 2–0 win over Lesotho due to the fielding of ineligible player Teboho Mokoena, the team was docked three points and saw their goal difference slashed from +8 to +3.

The ruling has dropped South Africa from first to second in Group C, now level on 14 points with Benin but trailing on goal difference.

Despite the blow, Broos remains defiant. Speaking at the squad announcement for the upcoming qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, the Belgian coach made it clear that his players are mentally prepared to rise to the challenge.

‘I am not afraid that it will affect the mentality of the players in the group because I know those guys and I know what they want,’ Broos said. ‘They all want to go to America, and they will do everything in the next two games to win.’

Rather than dwell on the controversy, Broos is channeling the frustration into motivation.

‘It didn’t affect me either, except those first two hours when we received the message,’ he admitted. ‘It has become the motivation, and I will try to deliver that message to the players.’

With South Africa now needing victories in both remaining fixtures, against Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on October 10 and Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on October 14, Broos is urging his team to focus on results rather than goal margins.

‘We don’t have to look at goal difference, we must go out there and try to win the games,’ he said. ‘If we win the match with one goal, we will take it. If we win the game with three goals, we will also take it.’

Broos cautioned against chasing big scorelines, warning that desperation could lead to tactical errors.

‘It can become dangerous for us because we will be too focused on scoring goals and leave space and give opportunities to the opponent,’ he explained. ‘That will not be good and it is something we don’t have to do.’