Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has said many times that if a player is not getting sufficient minutes at his club, he will not be selected for the national team, and several players will face an anxious few months until the final squad selection.
He may make exceptions in certain instances, but if we have learnt anything about Broos over the last five years, he rarely deviates from his plan or what he believes.
The squad for the international firiendlies against Panama in Durban (March 27) and Cape Town (March 31) will tell us much about his thnking.
Flashscore looks at how the players have fared since the Cup of Nations and how this may impact their World Cup selection chances.
Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns): The tough midfielder has played just 45 minutes since Bafana Bafana’s defeat to Cameroon in Morocco. He was taken off at halftime of Sundowns’ Nedbank Cup win over second-tier Gomora United on February 4 and has not featured since. This is a huge blow to his World Cup chances.
Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates): Continues to be among the best-performing players in the Betway Premiership and is bang in form with goals and assists. The winger will surely be one of the first names on the squad list and a player who can make a huge difference for Bafana with his creativity.
Samukele Kabini (Molde, Norway): Kabini has been inactive since the Cup of Nations as the season in Norway only starts next weekend. It should not be an issue if he is a first-team regular again with 11 matches between now and the break for the World Cup.
Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge, Belgium): The winger continues to get minutes off the bench, including in the Champions League, but he has played just over an hour in total since the Cup of Nations. Broos may opt for more experience with Campbell still to earn his first cap.
Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates): The goalkeeper continues to be the first choice at Pirates and is rarely rested. He has been in good form and helped them to the top of the Betway Premiership table. The undisputed number two with Bafana behind Ronwen Williams.
Lyle Foster (Burnley, England): He has been in and out of the Burnley side as they struggle in the Premier League and also missed a few weeks with injury. He scored in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and has also been unlucky on several other occasions. He will most likely lead the forward line at the World Cup.
Ricardo Goss (Siwelele): Siwelele have not been in action much since the Cup of Nations, but Goss is their first choice and has played five matches. The third-choice keeper has to be competent of course, but it is also an opportunity to bring an experienced player and a calming influence into the squad. Goss fits that bill and may compete with Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen for the place. The latter has been having a fine season.
Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates): This will be one of the big concerns for Broos, with striker Makgopa having lost his starting place in the Pirates side to Yanela Mbuthuma. He has started a handful of games since the Cup of Nations but did get a goal off the bench against Chiefs in the Soweto Derby. Ideally, Broos would want him playing more.
Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City): The right-back remains a first choice at Polokwane City and even got a goal against Magesi FC recently. No problem with club minutes, but does he have the international experience for a World Cup?
Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates): Has had a few injury niggles but when fit has been a regular starter for Pirates and his form has been good. The midfielder does battle to finish games generally, often coming off somewhere between 60–70 minutes. He is versatile enough to be a good option for the World Cup as a squad player.
Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates): Arguably the biggest concern for Broos, because Mbule has had 50 minutes in two substitute appearances since the Cup of Nations. He emerged last year as a viable replacement for Themba Zwane in the position behind the strikers but cannot be selected based on his minutes to date. So who fills that role then?
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA): The 2026 season in Major League Soccer has only just begun, but Mbokazi is straight into the starting XI at his new club Chicago Fire and has made a good impression so far. That should continue in the coming months as he is highly valued by the club.
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns): One of the first names on the teamsheet at Sundowns, his performances have been good and he has chipped in with a couple of goals. His box-to-box style makes him a vital player for Bafana and Broos’ only concern will be that he does not pick up an injury.
Elias Mokwana (Al-Hazem, Saudi Arabia): The right winger has had a mixture of starts and substitute appearances at his Saudi club. He has played enough for it not to be a concern, but he is probably still on the fringes of selection.
Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates): Broos will be relieved to see that Mofokeng is back to his best after a slow start to the season. He is bossing games, scoring goals and creating assists, being the influential player that everyone knows he can be. At present he is probably the best bet to fill that ‘10’ role from Mbule. If he can shine at the World Cup it will be huge for the team … and himself. He is still only 21 and ripe for a move overseas.
Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns): Left-back Modiba appears to be back in the Sundowns side as a starter after briefly losing his place to 19-year-old Thato Sibiya. On his day Modiba can be very good, but mixed in there are perhaps too many below-par showings, which is why club and country are always looking for options in this position.
Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates): The winger has really been catapulted into the national frame this season since his move to Pirates and has grabbed his chance. He has been in and out of the starting XI since the Cup of Nations with five starts and three substitute appearances, but his minutes are not a worry. He continues to impress.
Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns): Mudau continues to be first choice at right-back for Sundowns and his form has been good since the Cup of Nations. There appears to be no real challenger to his position in the team.
Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania): Ngezana has not played since the end of January, which will be a concern for Broos. He is expected to be back at the start of April. He was the first-choice centre-back at the Cup of Nations and has good experience from playing in Romania, including in the Europa League.
Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns): The centre-back made the switch from TS Galaxy to Sundowns in January and has gone straight into the team with some strong performances. He is a classy player and despite his relative inexperience, is a good bet to go to the World Cup.
Mohau Nkota (Al-Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia): Has lost his starting place at Al-Ettifaq but does come off the bench around the hour mark in almost every game, so his minutes will not be an issue. Perhaps he was not at his best at the Cup of Nations, so may still need to convince Broos he is the correct choice.
Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates): Sibisi has been playing in the heart of the Pirates defence and is an important leader at the back. He played only one match at the Cup of Nations after being kept out by Mbokazi and Ngezana but brings plenty of experience to the squad.
Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal): Was dropped during the Cup of Nations after some indifferent displays but has got plenty of minutes for Tondela in Portugal and appears to be in decent form. He is a player Broos really likes, so should get the nod.
Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers, England): Continues to campaign for the Under-21s at Queens Park Rangers, so it would be a major surprise if he were to get the nod for the World Cup. Along with Campbell he went to the Cup of Nations for the experience, having been earmarked as a future star for the national team. That is still true, but this World Cup may be too soon.
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns): The number one for club and country, he remains a key part of the side for his excellence in goal but also his leadership. Bafana will need him big-time at the World Cup and his form has been good in recent times. His distribution to get the team on the front foot quickly is a key weapon.