Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed frustration over his team’s inability to conduct a pre-match training session at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 25 March 2025.
Benin is hosting South Africa in Côte d’Ivoire due to their home grounds being deemed unsuitable for international fixtures. However, the stadium was unavailable for Bafana Bafana’s pre-match training because Côte d’Ivoire hosted The Gambia there on Monday, 24 March 2025. This scheduling conflict prevented both South Africa and Benin from accessing the venue a day before their own match.
Broos emphasized that FIFA regulations grant teams the right to a 60-minute training session at the match venue prior to the game. “I have to tell you that I’m really not satisfied with the decision that we can’t have a pre-match training in the stadium where the game takes place,” Broos stated. “I think this is a FIFA rule… I don’t understand… This is bad when people who make the rules don’t follow the rules.”
Despite the setback, Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams remains optimistic. Reflecting on the team’s previous success in Côte d’Ivoire, where they secured the Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal in February 2024, Williams said, “It’s going to be a tough one. Benin is a very good team, but we believe in our qualities… We know how important and vital this game is for the group.”
As the team prepares under these challenging circumstances, they aim to overcome obstacles and secure a positive result in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
