Kaizer Chiefs’ rising star Mduduzi Shabalala has earned a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, stepping in for the injured Relebohile Mofokeng. The Orlando Pirates forward suffered an injury during the weekend’s Carling Knockout clash, forcing coach Hugo Broos to make a late adjustment ahead of two crucial fixtures.
Shabalala Gets His Chance to Shine
Shabalala, who was part of the preliminary squad, will now officially join the national team camp as preparations intensify for matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder was also included in Bafana’s previous squad for the qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria, though he didn’t feature on the pitch.
This latest call-up offers Shabalala another opportunity to impress Broos and potentially make his senior debut in front of home supporters. The youngster’s inclusion has been warmly received by Kaizer Chiefs fans, who believe his creativity and energy could inject much-needed spark into Bafana’s attack.
Broos Confirms Squad Adjustments
Speaking at a press briefing at Dobsonville Stadium on Monday, Broos confirmed the late squad change.
“We had to replace Rele Mofokeng because of the injury he got on Saturday,” he said, adding that the team’s first training session went ahead smoothly despite a few absentees.
Only two players, Lyle Foster and Sphephelo Sithole, had yet to join camp at the time, but both were expected to arrive by Tuesday morning.
Bafana’s High-Stakes Week Ahead
Bafana Bafana will face Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday before heading to Mbombela Stadium to meet Rwanda four days later. Both encounters are must-win games following the team’s recent setback off the field.
Earlier this year, South Africa were docked three points after fielding Teboho Mokoena, who should have served a suspension during the clash against Lesotho. The ruling has left Broos’s men under pressure to collect maximum points from their remaining qualifiers to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
A Big Moment for the Young Chiefs Star
For Shabalala, this call-up marks a significant milestone in his young career. Having worked his way up through the Kaizer Chiefs development ranks, he now has the platform to represent his country in matches that could define Bafana’s qualification campaign.
Fans and pundits alike will be eager to see if Broos gives the youngster a runout, especially given the team’s recent need for more creativity in the final third.
As the countdown to Friday’s match begins, all eyes will be on the talented Amakhosi midfielder, ready to step out of the shadows and make his mark for Bafana Bafana.
Related article: “Sorry, Kaizer Chiefs Weren’t Good Enough” – Broos on Leaving Amakhosi Players Out
