South Africa Coach Hugo Broos Concerned Over Injuries Ahead of Nigeria Clash

By Saheed Afolabi

South Africa coach Hugo Broos is worried about the injuries sustained by key players in his squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Uyo.

The two sides will meet again following a tense semifinal clash at the 2023 AFCON, where the Super Eagles edged Bafana Bafana in a penalty shootout.

Broos fears he might not have his best squad available due to these injuries, though he remains optimistic that players like Ronwen Williams and Khuliso Mudau could still be fit after medical assessments.

“We all witnessed the cup final (between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in Mbombela) over the weekend, so it goes without saying that we have injuries. Due to a hamstring injury, Grant Kekana left the camp this morning and has been replaced by Given Msimango of Kaizer Chiefs,” Broos was quoted by SAFA.

“We have other injuries from the Sundowns players that played, like Khuliso Mudau, Ronwen Williams, and a few others. But we are confident that after the medical department’s assessment, all will be well. It is still a concern though.”

The coach is also perturbed by the long travel hours required to reach Nigeria, though he applauded the South African Football Association (SAFA) for providing a chartered flight to ease their journey.

“Traversing the African continent is not easy, and there have been many tales about how difficult it is, often flying for hours and trekking by road to reach distant destinations. I have to say that we are traveling by charter to Nigeria, thanks to a big financial effort by SAFA to ensure that we are fit and rested to take on Nigeria on their home turf. This is always in our best interests, so I want to thank them immensely.”

Bafana Bafana are currently second in the group standings with three points from two matches.