Kaizer Chiefs Petersen & Links’ World Cup snubs, what is Benni McCarthy saying?

Kaizer Chiefs captain Brandon Petersen is among the stars who were controversially left out of the Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

The custodian was excellent between the posts, keeping 15 clean sheets in the 24 Premier Soccer League matches to ensure the Glamour Boys finished third on the table to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup next season. In 35 outings, across all competitions, he stopped the ball from finding the back of the net 18 times.

Gift Links played 22 Danish Super League games for AGF, scoring three goals and providing five assists in the process to help his team win the championship. The 27-year-old played 38 games in total, with a return of six goals and seven assists.

However, Hugo Broos felt the duo did not have what he needed for the prestigious global competition. Nevertheless, South Africa legend Benni McCarthy feels otherwise.

Benni opens up on Petersen snub

The former Manchester United strikers’ coach believes Petersen was excellent throught ths season, and shuld have been in the plane to the World Cup.

“There’s a couple of names that I would have [selected]. If I was in the position, I think I would have gone a different route especially with the Brandon Petersen case. I think with the season that Kaizer Chiefs had, he’s really been phenomenal, he’s been really an outstanding performer,” the Kenya coach told Sporty TV.

“When you perform like that, throughout the season, every time you step in between those goals, he’s a different maker for his team, then yeah, you deserve to be on that plane. I really feel for him for missing out.

Broos’ Ego to blame?

“And then the exclusion of somebody that, I don’t know what’s the situation like there, Gift Links, you win the league in Denmark. That’s one of the toughest leagues, it’s one of the European leagues. And for the first time other than myself, that’s won a league in a European country, he’s gone and done it,” McCarthy added.

“Does it even come close to mentioning, maybe coach’s preference. But man at the end of the day, you put your pride and ego a little bit aside and reward people on merit.

“I feel that it was a hard one but other than that he has used the players he has selected throughout the campaign, so I understand the sense of loyalty to the players – who were sacrificing and being there for the national team, going into difficult places.

“And now all of a sudden because a few players have had excellent season, you’ve got to sacrifice players that have helped you get [to the World Cup]. Coach knows what he’s done and I’m no one to question that,” he concluded.