South Africa coach Hugo Broos says his team will “fight like lions” when they take on Zimbabwe in Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Afrosport reports.
Zimbabwe are the home team but will face Bafana Bafana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with kick-off set for 6 p.m. local time.
Broos’ men dropped into second in Group C following FIFA’s ruling in the ineligibility case against midfielder Teboho Mokoena. They are levelled points with leaders Benin, who boast a superior goal difference.
The countdown to Moses Mabhida Stadium continues!!!#BafanaPride@SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/el7UAYEOjq
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 7, 2025
The Belgian tactician says the players are fully focused and ready to give their all as they look to keep South Africa’s qualification hopes alive despite their recent setback.
“Nothing has changed. I feel that the group, the boys, the players, they know that they are the same players from two months ago,” Broos said. “They are the same team with the same quality and with a fantastic mentality.
“Tomorrow at six o’clock, the game starts and we will fight for it like lions because we want to win that game tomorrow, you can be sure of it.”
Meanwhile, captain Ronwen Williams also stressed the importance of finishing the campaign strongly, starting with Friday’s match against Zimbabwe before facing Rwanda next Tuesday.
“We know what is at stake,” the goalkeeper. “This is the business end of the qualifiers, but nothing has changed and we need to be the same team we have been for the last two or three years.
“We have been growing, and we have been so good, but we need to finish it on a positive note. We have set ourselves high standards. When we started the World Cup campaign, we said we wanted to qualify and it is close now.”
