The debate over Bafana Bafana’s squad selection is heating up, and Orlando Pirates legend Innocent Mayoyo has fired a direct shot at the Glamour Boys. According to the former goalkeeper, Hugo Broos should look everywhere except Naturena when finalizing his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the global showpiece less than three months away, the absence of Kaizer Chiefs players from Broos’ recent 38-man preliminary squad for the upcoming Panama friendlies has sparked a national conversation—and Mayoyo believes the snub is completely justified.
The Argument: Form Over Reputation
Mayoyo’s stance is rooted in the “strange” underperformance currently plaguing the Amakhosi. He argues that international call-ups should be a reward for consistency, something Chiefs have lacked since the turn of the year.
- Team Performance = Player Merit: Mayoyo insists that when a team as big as Chiefs struggles as a unit, it is impossible to justify selecting individual players.
- The 38-Man Pool: He has urged Hugo Broos to stop experimenting and focus solely on the pool of players already selected. “No, Kaizer Chiefs players should not be in the World Cup squad. They are not doing well,” Mayoyo told KickOff.
A February to Forget: The Stats Behind the Snub
The exclusion of Amakhosi stars follows a disastrous run of form that saw the club’s season unravel in a matter of weeks.
| Competition | Outcome |
| Nedbank Cup | Knocked Out |
| CAF Confederation Cup | Knocked Out |
| Recent League Form | Ended a 4-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over Durban City. |
While the win against Durban City provided some relief, Mayoyo believes the damage to the players’ World Cup aspirations is already done.
Can the “Ghost” Change Broos’ Mind?
With 11 matches remaining in the season, there is a small window for the Chiefs’ contingent to force their way back into the reckoning. A late-season surge to finish third in the Betway Premiership might make it difficult for Broos to ignore certain standout performers. However, for now, the message from the legends is clear: performance, not pedigree, will book the tickets to the World Cup.
