Chiefs star Shabalala reacts to 2026 World Cup dream with Bafana Bafana

Many Premier Soccer League players, South African footballers at large, wish to be part of the Bafana Bafana squad that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The national team topped Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers to get an automatic ticket for the prestigious global competition. Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Rwanda were also in the same pool but just couldn’t match Hugo Broos’ men.

Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Cape Verde are the other teams that have qualified for the competition. The Democratic Republic of Congo might join them if they win their play-offs.

Mzansi have since been placed in Group A alongside South Korea and the hosts Mexico. Another team will be confirmed after the playoffs.

Shabalala opens up on World Cup possibilities

Kaizer Chiefs players have improved this season, explaining why they are in the race for the Premier Soccer League title and the CAF Confederation Cup as well.

The 22-year-old versatile midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala has been one of the club’s driving force. He was on the standby list for the Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and was involved in the qualifiers. However, the Amakhosi graduate is not getting carried away.

“The talks mean nothing, mine is to work hard and raise my hand in my club,” he said in his interview with the media.

“I believe that one day I’ll get an opportunity to go and represent my national team,” Shabalala concluded.

At the recently concluded AFCON in Morocco, which Senegal won, South Africa were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Cameroon. Coach Broos hopes to have a better outing in the World Cup.