Hugo Broos slams Bloemfontein pitch as Bafana Bafana prepare for World Cup qualifiers

Bafana Bafana's preparations for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have taken a hit, as head coach Hugo Broos has expressed his disappointment regarding the poor state of the Free State Stadium pitch in Bloemfontein.

South Africa is scheduled to host their neighbour Lesotho on September 5, before facing a challenging match against Nigeria four days later.

In a recent announcement of his 23-man squad, Broos did not hold back his criticism of the venue, which was expected to be in optimal condition following the COSAFA Cup held there in June.

"I am a bit disappointed. I was in Bloemfontein and I saw the pitch," he stated. "They had six weeks to fix it. I have observed the efforts made by other cities – Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Polokwane. I am quite disappointed that they did not do the same."

It’s clear from Broos's remarks that he is concerned about the implications of a poor pitch on the performance of his team.

In a strategic shift, Bafana will now stay in Johannesburg from Monday and will only make their way to Bloemfontein on Thursday for their matches. “Even the training pitch in Bloemfontein is bad,” he lamented. “Lesotho are the host (of the first game), so we can’t really complain. But then we have Nigeria, and we are disappointed.”

The stakes are high for Bafana Bafana, who currently lead their group with 13 points, maintaining a five-point cushion over second-placed Rwanda and Benin.

However, an additional layer of uncertainty looms over the squad, as they may face a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the match against Lesotho in March.

While FIFA has yet to issue a ruling, calls for action from Nigeria — who are behind Bafana in the qualifier standings — have increased tensions.

Broos remains optimistic despite the turmoil, suggesting that since Lesotho did not file an official complaint regarding the ineligibility issue, FIFA may not take action.

“There was no complaint. How can you punish someone if there is no complaint?” he queried.

His confidence signals a determined attitude as Bafana approaches their pivotal matches in the World Cup qualification journey.