Heading towards the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has outlined ambitious objectives, emphasizing the imperative of securing qualification for the prestigious tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.Despite acknowledging the challenges ahead, Broos remains resolute in his belief that South Africa possesses the talent and potential to compete at the highest level on the global stage.”This AFCON has proved we can beat the bigger teams, and as I have said, we need highly competitive friendlies. We need to be in the World Cup 2026. It is not going to be easy; we lost to Rwanda, we have Benin and Zimbabwe in the same group, but the so-called small teams have made progress, so we cannot undermine them,” Broos affirmed, emphasizing the need for rigorous preparation and respect for all opponents. AFCON 2023: Bronze medal at stake as South Africa take on DR Congo in third place play-offHowever, Broos has pointedly drawn attention to a significant obstacle hindering South Africa’s footballing progress – the standard of the domestic league, the Premier Soccer League (PSL). He contends that for the national team to ascend to greater heights, the PSL must undergo substantial improvement to provide players with the requisite level of competition and development.”The level of the PSL has to go up if the national team is to do better. The players too have felt that this AFCON is a totally different level. National teams that have the majority of players coming from Europe and other big leagues have had it easy because they are used to playing back-to-back high-level matches,” Broos asserted, underscoring the advantage enjoyed by teams with players honed in more competitive environments.##NAJAVA_MECA_7863368##Looking towards the future, Broos has outlined plans for rebuilding the squad in anticipation of forthcoming challenges, including the 2026 World Cup and beyond. Recognizing the inevitability of transitions within the team, he affirms proactive measures to integrate emerging talent into the national setup.”Definitely, there are players who will not be around for the next World Cup, so we are already thinking ahead. We have a list of players that we are scouting, and they will be integrated into the team at the right time,” Broos stated, highlighting the strategic foresight essential for sustained success in international football.As South Africa navigates the path towards World Cup qualification, Broos’s vision encompasses not only short-term objectives but also the cultivation of a sustainable framework for long-term competitiveness, anchored in the evolution of the domestic football landscape and the strategic nurturing of emerging talent. AFCON 2023: Broos and Desabre prepare teams for third-place duel
