Iqraam Rayners: Bafana coach reveals why he recalled Sundowns striker

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has detailed his reasoning for bringing striker Iqraam Rayners back into the national team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Belgian coach announced his final 26-man squad on Wednesday evening during a send-off ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The team is set to depart for Mexico ahead of their opening World Cup match on June 11, 2026.

Broos’s selection featured some surprises, with several in-form players omitted while others who had recently been out of the national setup earned a recall.

Notably absent from the final list is Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, who had been a strong contender following a season where his performances helped Amakhosi secure a third-place finish and a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Rayners among biggest beneficiaries

Petersen was cut from the preliminary squad alongside his club teammates Lebohang Maboe and Thabiso Monyane. Other players who did not make the final cut include Patrick Maswanganyi, Thapelo Morena, and Brooklyn Poggenpoel.

In contrast, Broos has recalled Mamelodi Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners and Thapelo Maseko, both of whom missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Their inclusion is aimed at bolstering South Africa’s attacking options as the team looks to make a strong impression on the global stage.

Rayners endured a challenging season at Sundowns, with injuries and stiff competition limiting his starting opportunities. Despite this, he managed to score 16 goals and provide three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.

Why Broos recalled Sundowns striker

Broos explained that the 30-year-old offers a different attacking profile compared to the other selected strikers, Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster, giving the team more tactical flexibility.

“Rayners was out of the team because of his health problems and he had difficulty getting a place in the team [at Sundowns], but in the games that he played, he scored,” Broos stated as per FARPost.

“You know with Rayners, he is always able to score, and he’s also a different type from the other two. You have Foster, and you have Makgopa, who’s more of a tall guy. But now we also have him [Rayners]; he’s fast, he’s the one who has a nose for goal.

“So we have options now; we will choose between Foster, Makgopa, or Rayners. And during the game, if you have to change something, we have different types of players, and that’s why I wanted him with us.”