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Bafana Bafana as they arrived in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
News emanating from the Bafana Bafana camp ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin in the Ivory Coast is that the national team has been prevented from training at the matchday venue on the eve of the crucial fixture. Bafana coach Hugo Broos is frustrated by the turn of events and says this violates the rules as stipulated by FIFA regarding access to the match day venues.
Bafana will square up to Benin on Tuesday at 6pm, a team they were able to beat in the first round of qualifiers at home.
One more sleep…#BafanaPride @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/IJnf15XQ5C
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 24, 2025
Benin will host Bafana Bafana in Côte d’Ivoire after their home grounds were deemed to be unsuitable for international matches. But this arrangement has been complicated by the fact that Côte d’Ivoire host the Gambia at the same stadium on Monday night, and this means both Bafana Bafana and Benin cannot access the venue a day before their own match.
Broos is understandably upset as the visiting team is entitled to a training session of up to one hour on the pitch where the match is to take place, on the day before the match.
“This is bad when people who make the rules don’t follow the rules. Will that have an influence on the game? I don’t know. But I know if tomorrow after the game I’m not at the press conference, there will be a sanction. So, we have to follow the rules. Where are the rules now? And you will tell me, yes, that’s for both teams. I don’t think so. I think Benin has already trained in that stadium because they were here before us,” says Broos.
Bafana Bafana is back in Côte d’Ivoire after winning the Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal in the country in February last year. So, the surroundings are not unfamiliar, but Bafana still needs to beat Benin before the final four qualifying fixtures in September and October.
“Benin is a good team. They played only a draw on Friday. So, they are behind by two points. You know, qualification for World Cup in Africa is very difficult. You never can tell before a game before you are in it. You have to fight for every metre, every ball, every point you need. So, today, it will not be any different. We will play against a good team we know that,” says Broos.
Bafana Bafana top group C with 10 points, two ahead of Benin. Their path to the 2026 World Cup is in their own hands, but they must continue to get the results they need.
Bafana’s dreams of qualifying for 2026 FIFA World Cup still on track:
