Broos Explains Petersen’s Omission from Bafana Squad

Bafana Bafana’s coach, Hugo Broos, has stated that while Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has been performing exceptionally well, he is not currently a stronger candidate than the three goalkeepers selected for the national team.

Broos shared these remarks while announcing his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria on Thursday, with matches scheduled from September 5-9 at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

It’s About Competition, Not Talent

Petersen has been in outstanding form this season, achieving four clean sheets in the first league matches, including a scoreless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Still, Broos confirmed that his favorite goalkeepers are Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, and Ricardo Goss.

“When I first arrived, we thoroughly searched for talented goalkeepers,” Broos noted.

“We had [Ronwen] Williams in the mix, Goss, who was still a backup at Sundowns, and Sipho Chaine, who was relatively unknown at that time,” he added.

“Now, we have those three players, and we feel secure. We also have [Renaldo] Leaner, and now Petersen. Comparing Petersen’s progress since last season, he is undoubtedly another promising goalkeeper.”

“However, I cannot name three keepers. As much as he deserves recognition for his play at Chiefs, I cannot afford to exclude Goss, Williams, or Chaine,” he explained, urging Petersen to remain patient and await his moment.

Pursuing World Cup Dreams

The national team is focused on upholding their strong home record during World Cup qualifiers, having not lost at home since 2017, with their last defeat occurring against Senegal.

Winning against Lesotho and Nigeria would bring Bafana Bafana closer to securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.