2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Africa
Broos ‘a bit angry’ at Maswanganyi withdrawal
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos was less than pleased to discover that he had to replace Patrick Maswanganyi in his squad after only learning of the player’s injury on Sunday evening.
The Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder missed the 2-1 victory over Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend after picking up an injury, although his club failed to notify Broos prior to the match.
Maswanganyi’s absence has given Broos a selection headache as he was unable to call-up Sinoxolo Kwayiba as a replacement because the Chippa United star is nursing a a knee problem.
The Belgian tactician revealed on Monday that Polokwane City midfielder Ndamulelo Maphangule had joined the camp in Polokwane ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.
“I’m a bit angry because we only knew it yesterday (Sunday) evening when they (Pirates) knew already on Saturday that he (Maswanganyi) couldn’t play yesterday,” Broos said. “That meant we had to look for someone else.
“The first choice was Sinoxolo Kwayiba from Chippa United, but he’s also injured on the knee. We now have Polokwane City midfielder Ndamulelo Maphangule as a replacement for Maswanganyi.”
Aubrey Modiba was not amongst the assembled players in Limpopo’s capital, however, after his wife gave birth to their child on Monday.
“It’s a long time ago we had all the 23 players on the first day of the camp. OK, I lie a bit because there’s one player who’s not here,” the 72-year-old added.
“It’s Aubrey Modiba, but he has to do something more important than being in a camp with the national team. His wife will give birth this afternoon [Monday] and I think there is a need to be present as a father.
“He will join us later in the evening. I think those things are more important in life than a qualification game for the World Cup.”
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