Bafana Bafana have been advised to ensure they play top quality friendly matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup if they want to get out of their group.

Bafana Bafana are looking forward to a better tournament this year after their previous three World Cup appearances ended at the group stage but their Round of 16 exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations dampened fans’ hopes.

Orlando Pirates legend Edward Motale feels South Africa did not go to AFCON 2025 well prepared and fans were also sold false hopes, something that should not be allowed to happen ahead of the World Cup.

Bafana Bafana players at AFCON 2025. Photo Imago

“They [Bafana Bafana] were too confident in themselves and to us supporters. They need to play real friendly matches,” Motale said on SoccerBeat.

Bafana blamed for poor pre-AFCON preparations

“That is preparation. It is like a car, before you jump into a car, you start it first, give it a minute or two so that everything can gel well.

“They did not play friendly matches going to this [AFCON] tournament, they only played Ghana U19s so you could see they took everything light that we have reached the ceiling now it is going to be easy.

“Plus the comfort that they had when they qualified unbeaten. So they sat on their laurels thinking they would bully everybody and reach the final.”

The former Pirates defender has therefore called on SAFA to ensure South Africa play matches against teams of the same calibre as the ones they will face at the World Cup if they have to avoid embarrassment in North America.

What must South Africa do ahead of World Cup?

“Friendly matches help you get the systems and combinations right and the substitutions,” he added. “That did not happen [pre-AFCON] but going to the World Cup, they need to play friendly matches and positive friendlies.”

“If you are going to play Denmark, if possible, play Denmark in a friendly match, or something equal to Denmark,” he further said.

“That is what we used to do. We played Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the [Didier] Drogbas…Ghana…the Tony Yeboahs and when we came up against them, it was easy we beat them in Pretoria. Don’t beat Botswana 4-0 and think you are on top of the roof.”

Bafana Bafana will play Mexico, South Korea and a European nation that will come from the playoff group which comprises Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia.

South Africa will be thrown into the thick of the action from Day 1 as they play the opening match against Mexico on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.