EIGHT BUCCANEERS BOUND FOR INTERNATIONAL STAGE

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Eight Orlando Pirates players are set to depart for national duty in the upcoming FIFA international break, as Namibia and South Africa take part in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers taking place in early September.

It’s crunch time in the race for spots in the global showpiece event hosted in North America in June next year. The seventh and eighth game weeks in the African qualifiers arrive with both Southern African nations placed within a realistic chance of featuring among the 48 national teams that will compete in the prestigious tournament.

Namibia’s Brave Warriors are on the verge of making their first appearance in the competition as they sit second in Group H after six games played. Coach Collin Benjamin has once again included the experienced Deon Hotto in his squad that will do battle against Malawi and São Tomé and Príncipe.

A regular in the national setup, the 34-year-old could add to his 65 caps in the two crucial fixtures as the Brave Warriors look to close the four-point gap between themselves and group leaders Tunisia, while also attempting to steer clear of the rest of the chasing pack. They resume action at home against Malawi’s Flames on Friday, 5 September before hosting the islanders four days later. Both fixtures will take place in Francistown, Botswana.

The majority of the Bucs representatives in the upcoming qualifiers will be turning out for South Africa, following Thursday afternoon’s squad announcement made by head coach Hugo Broos.

The 23-man squad that will take on Lesotho and Nigeria in the coming days featured a potential debutant in Pirates new recruit Kamogelo Sebelebele, who has netted three goals and provided an assist in his first six appearances for the club. The winger’s impressive form has been duly rewarded, and he could be set for his first official cap in national colours.

Returning to the squad is goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who made the most recent of his two caps in a friendly match against Mozambique in the previous international window. He is joined by teenage defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who debuted in the same fixture.

Broos has also called up the tried and tested trio of Thalente Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng. All three have featured regularly for the national team in the past year, and could add more caps to their tally.

Winger Oswin Appollis meanwhile rounds up the club’s contingent in the squad as he gets his first call up as a Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has also been a consistent feature for Bafana since making his debut against Rwanda in November 2023.

Bafana Bafana currently top Group C where they are five points clear of second-placed Rwanda. Their first fixture is away to Likuena of Lesotho, with the game taking place next Friday at Free State Stadium. They then return to the same venue the following Tuesday when they host the Super Eagles. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 18:00.

Full Fixtures List

Friday, 5 September