Overview

• FIFA’s three‑point deduction for fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena dropped South Africa to second in Group C, level on 14 points and trailing Benin on goal difference.
• Hugo Broos confirmed he asked the U‑20 staff to leave 19‑year‑old Mbekezeli Mbokazi out of the World Cup in Chile so the defender remains available for the senior qualifiers.
• Relebohile Mofokeng was stretchered off in a club cup match and has been replaced in the squad by Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala, whom Broos views best behind the striker.
• Bafana play Zimbabwe in Durban on Friday and Rwanda in Mbombela next Tuesday, with Broos calling the Zimbabwe game “maybe the most important” given Benin’s two away fixtures and the one‑spot qualification format.
• The squad reported to camp ahead of the decisive fixtures, with additional call‑ups including Lyle Foster and Sphephelo Sithole set to link up today according to team updates.