Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has named his final 23-man squad for this month’s back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.

Stellenbosch FC defenders Thabo Moloisane and Fawaaz Basadien have been included in the squad alongside striker, Percy Tau, and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Jayden Adams.

The Belgian mentor has also included captain and Sundowns goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, after his return from injury on Wednesday in a Betway Premiership match against Amazulu.

Meanwhile, Broos says winning the two matches against Lesotho and Benin will be a big step towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There weren’t many surprises in the Bafana Bafana goalkeeping department when Broos named his squad.

Orlando Pirates’ Sipho Chaine, Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams and Ricardo Goss are the three goalkeepers called up for the two qualifiers. There were fears Williams, who had not featured for Sundowns for three weeks, might not recover in time for the two qualifiers. But the 33-year-old has been included after making a return to action for Downs on Wednesday.

“I was a little bit afraid because he was two, three weeks out and I was afraid he couldn’t make the camp now. So, I am very happy with it,” says Broos.

Stellenbosch FC duo of Maloisane and Basadien, and T.S Galaxy’s Khulumane Ndamane have been included in defence alongside familiar faces, Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba.

Downs’ Jaden Adams, who Broos left out of his previous squads, makes a return in midfield alongside Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas and Pirates’ Thalente Mbatha.

Broos welcomed back strikers, Percy Tau and Lyle Foster, to his squad and says their experience will help the team in the two qualifiers.

“I am very happy that Percy is back and that Lyle is back, because in the previous game, Lyle is injured and we missed him and Percy Tau is back. So, we have two players who have experience,” says the coach.

Bafana Bafana are second in Group C with 7 points after four matches, below Rwanda who have the same number of points, but a better goal difference, after four games.

Broos says they are at a crucial stage of the qualifying campaign and want nothing than maximum points in both qualifiers.

“I think we are on a very crucial stage of the qualifiers. So, it’s very important that we should win those two games,” he says.

Bafana will host Lesotho on March 21st at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane before playing Benin in Ivory Coast four days later.