Mngqithi highlights Bafana’s main weakness ahead of World Cup

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi has singled out one area that is worrying him about Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Bafana Bafana will head to the World Cup looking to upset Mexico, South Korea and Czech Republic in Group A to make it to the knockout stages for the first time in their history but Mngqithi doubts whether they have the defence to do the job.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach has singled out the back four as an area that needs improving with central defence particularly leaving him in a spot of bother going by what he has witnessed in recent matches.

South Africa, who looked rock solid during the World Cup qualifiers, have been porous since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they have conceded in their last six matches, letting in six goals in four matches at AFCON 2025, and three in two against Panama last month to the concern of Mngqithi.

Mngqithi on what worries him about Bafana

“I believe Hugo [Broos] has done very well for the country from the beginning up until now. He has been exceptional…. But there are areas in that national team that I ask myself serious questions,” Mngqithi said on Arrows Up Back Through Podcast as quoted by FARPost.

“I ask myself serious questions about the central defence of that national team. And I ask myself serious questions about the defence. I wouldn’t want to go deep, but I’m just not too sure about the central defence yet, whether it’s resolute enough to sustain the pressure of what the opponents can bring,” he added.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos has been trying different partnerships in central defence with Siyabonga Ngezana playing alongside Mbekezeli Mbokazi in the group stages at AFCON 2025 before Nkosinathi Sibisi joined the duo to form a back three in their Round of 16 loss to Cameroon.

What must Broos fix before the World Cup?

During last month’s friendly matches against Panama, Broos partnered Ime Okon and Khulumani Ndamane in the first match that ended 1-1 before the former was played alongside Mbokazi in the second which South Africa lost 2-1.

It is perhaps why Mngqithi is worried although he believes Bafana Bafana are well-covered at right-back but need to find the right balance at left-back.

“I think the right channel is solid with [Khuliso] Mudau, [Thabang] Matuludi and potentially [Thapelo] Morena. But I think there is still a lot to be improved when it comes to the defensive side of our left channel,” he further stated, explaining that left-back needs work because Aubrey Modiba and Samukelo Kabini are great offensively but not defensively.