Having failed to win a match in 2026, concerns are growing over Bafana Bafana’s prospects ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos’ side have drawn three and lost two of their last five matches.
More worrying is the quality of opposition they have faced, with none of those teams ranked among the world’s top 30 or qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
While teams such as Mexico and South Korea have been scoring goals freely in recent weeks, Bafana Bafana have struggled badly in the final third.
Their problems first surfaced during the two friendly matches against Panama, where South Africa lost one encounter and drew the other.
At times, Bafana looked uncomfortable against Panama‘s physical approach and struggled to impose themselves on the game.
Bafana are not looking good ahead of World Cup
A subsequent clash against Nicaragua was viewed as an ideal opportunity to restore confidence, especially with the Central Americans fielding a youthful squad.
Bafana once again failed to find the back of the net and were held to a frustrating goalless draw.
The match, intended to serve as a send-off before the World Cup, ended up raising more questions than answers.
South Africa’s final warm-up fixture brought little improvement.
Despite taking the lead against Jamaica, the Reggae Boyz struck a late equaliser to force a draw and deny Bafana valuable momentum heading into the tournament.
The recent performances suggest a team struggling for confidence at a crucial stage of its preparations. With goals proving difficult to come by and victories elusive, Broos and his players face a significant challenge ahead of their World Cup opener.
Bafana Bafana will begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against hosts Mexico in four days’ time, knowing a strong performance could quickly silence the growing doubts surrounding the team.