Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has released key centreback Grant Kekana from his squad for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury, replacing him with Kaizer Chiefs’ Given Msimango. As Broos prepared for Bafana’s qualifiers against Nigeria in Uyo on Friday (9 pm SA time) and Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein next Tuesday (6 pm), the coach disclosed he has six injuries among his Mamelodi Sundowns contingent. However, apart from Kekana’s the rest were niggling and not expected to keep anyone out of action.
The national coach raised the alert about what Sundowns’ medical staff can do to prevent especially “groin and hamstring injuries”.
Broos and Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena have often publicly sniped at each other about injuries their players sustain for club and country.
Bafana Bafana started training for the two games on Monday, with Msimango in attendance. South Africa will take on Nigeria on June 7 before hosting Zimbabwe on June 11 at Free State Stadium.
Both games are massively important for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, with Broos targeting “at least four points”.
