SA Picks New Stadium for Must-Win WCQ vs Rwanda, Eyes Massive Home Support With Cheap Tickets
- South Africa has announced a new stadium for their final 2026 World Cup qualifier game against Rwanda
- The South African Football Association has also announced ticket prices to boost support from the home crowd
- Bafana Bafana will play both matches at home, with their first opponent, Zimbabwe, also playing in Durban
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South Africa has announced a new stadium for their final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda.
Bafana Bafana heads into the final two games, knowing they must win both matches to guarantee qualification, pending the outcome of FIFA's investigation.
Source: Getty Images
The world football governing body launched official proceedings against SAFA for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho on matchday five.
South Africa will be hit with a three-point deduction if found guilty, which will drop them to second in Group C behind Benin Republic on goal difference.
This makes their final matches a must-win, with the hope that Nigeria will do them a favour and beat their West African neighbours, Benin Republic, in the final game.
Bafana Bafana have the advantage of playing most of their games at home, with Zimbabwe and Lesotho also playing their home matches in South Africa.
South Africa new stadium to host Rwanda
According to Times Live, SAFA has announced that their matchday game against Rwanda will be played at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga province.
The change was necessitated by the complaints from Nigerian and South African players after their 1-1 draw at the poor pitch of the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Nigeria suffered two casualties on the pitch: Ola Aina and Wilfred Ndidi, with the Nottingham Forest defender ruled out for three months with a hamstring injury.
South Africa wants the full home advantage at the 43,500-capacity stadium and has announced cheap ticket prices to fill up the stadium.
The stadium was built in 2009 and was one of the hosts for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the last time South Africa qualified for the tournament.
It hosts both football and rugby matches, like the Free State Stadium, and is home to Premier Soccer League side TS Galaxy and rugby team Pumas.
Source: Getty Images
According to SABC Sport, Bafana Bafana will also enjoy massive home support in their first match against Zimbabwe after ZIFA chose the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
ZIFA initially ditched South Africa and opted for the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, but eventually reversed the decision.
Bafana have played most of their qualifying games at home because of their neighbours, who don't have accredited stadiums, only travelling to Uyo, Kigali, and Abidjan to play away matches against Nigeria, Rwanda, and Benin Republic.
South Africa announces preliminary squad
Legit.ng reported that Hugo Broos announced his 45-man preliminary squad to face Zimbabwe and Rwanda during the October international games.
The manager will downsize the squad to a final 23-man squad for the crucial final two matchdays, both of which they will play inside South Africa.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
