Lyle Foster, Evidence Makgopa Among 21 Players Dropped by Hugo Broos for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

• Lyle Foster has been omitted due to his current personal mental health struggles
• Hugo Broos announced a training squad of 44 players which has been cut in half
• Broos named 23 players that will play Benin and Rwanda in their first qualifiers

South Africa will need a winning start if they wish to journey to North America.

The upcoming international window kickstarts the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for the tournament to be held in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

South Africa have been drawn with Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, as well as their next two opponents, Benin and Rwanda.

The Belgian boss gave 44 players a chance to prove they could gel with his ideas and the day before the Soweto Derby, he dropped the axe.

The 21 players who did not make the cut are:

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• Melusi Buthelezi
• Thabiso Monyane
• Given Msimango
• Thapelo Xoki
• Taariq Fielies
• Themba Mantshiyane
• Thapelo Morena
• Ime Okon
• Sfiso Hlanti
• Grant Margeman
• Njabulo Blom
• Miguel Timm
• Thabang Monare
• Ethan Brooks
• Mlungisi Mbunjana
• Evidence Makgopa
• Lyle Foster
• Khanyisa Mayo
• Monnapule Saleng
• Tshepang Moremi
• Elias Mokwana

The squad was met with mixed reactions, with many querying the exclusion of players like Khanyisa Mayo, Njabulo Blom and Miguel Timm.

Lyle Foster is, of course, on the list for personal reasons, as stated by Burnley, while Hugo Broos explained that Njabulo Blom did not make it due to him not showing up to the camp on time. Broos told SABC Sport:

"When I select a player, first of all it is important that you have the quality, but secondly, and as important, is that you have the right mindset and the right mentality."

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Hugo Broos' squad for qualifiers

Sports Brief recently reported on the 23-man squad named by Hugo Broos for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Bafana Bafana will face the Benin Republic and Rwanda in their first two qualifiers for football's showpiece to be hosted in North America.

Among the players he has invited are midfielders Jayden Adams and Sphephelo Sithole, and forwards Zakhele Lepasa and Lebo Mothiba.