2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Hugo Broos blames lack of luck after Zimbabwe frustrated Bafana Bafana and concedes 'that’s very hard to accept'

Bafana Bafana were blunt in front of goal as they struggled for a breakthrough to settle for a 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

It was a difficult evening for Hugo Broos and his charges as they faced a Zimbabwe side anchoring Group C and already out of the running for a ticket to the World Cup.

The Bafana coach has blamed the lack of luck for dropping points from a match they needed to win.

“Yes, it’s true, I think we tried everything today, we didn’t have the luck either, one moment on the ball line saved, one on the post, you also need a little bit of luck in such games and we didn’t have it in our side today,” Broos told SABC Sport as per KickOff.  
“We fight for it, we did everything, tried everything but ok, you see a very motivated Zimbabwe team against us and we knew it would be tough, but that’s also football.  
“It was not in our favour, at that moment Zimbabwe just played 20 metres of their goal and they tried with the transitions they would be dangerous and they tried a few times with the transitions.  
“They were dangerous too, but this is something that’s very hard to accept certainly, it’s not lost totally but it will be very difficult now," added the Belgian.
“Yeah, this is not good, also that we don’t have the result in our favour either but what can I say? I can’t blame my team, I can’t be angry, I’m just very disappointed that we couldn’t score the goal that we needed.
“We have to play again like today and try to win that game and see what happens, if everything is like it has to be maybe Benin losing in Nigeria and with the goal-difference, I don’t have a good view of that but we just have to go for the victory against Rwanda and see what happens."

As their World Cup qualification bid appeared to be right on course, things took a turn when FIFA docked three points off Bafana for fielding a suspended Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho.

That cost South Africa some precious three points and had them surrendering Group C top spot to Benin.

The draw with Zimbabwe left them stuck at position two on the table going into the last match of the qualifiers. 

Bafana now prepare to welcome Rwanda in their last Group C match at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.

While needing to win their own match, they will also be hoping Benin lose to Nigeria for them to reclaim top spot.