Bafana Bafana defender Nkosinathi Sibisi is eager to help secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has been crucial in the current FIFA window for the South African national team.
Nkosinathi Sibisi has helped Bafana Bafana secure two clean sheets, defeating Lesotho and Benin 2-0 in their latest FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. They now enjoy a solid lead at the top of their group table.
Nkosinathi Sibisi Remembers the Success of AFCON
South Africa finished third in last year’s AFCON held in Morocco, marking an outstanding achievement for a team that didn’t even qualify for the previous tournament in 2022.
“Remember, no one gave us a chance at AFCON, but we managed to finish third,” Nkosinathi Sibisi revealed, according to IOL.
“And now, as a group (squad), we understand each other, and that is very important for such games (qualifiers). The harmony we have, you can’t fake it.” He stated.
The national team has grown in leaps and bounds over the past two years. Their performances have seen them rise into the CAF top 10 FIFA rankings.
For Nkosinathi Sibisi, it hasn’t always been an easy ride, but the support of Hugo Broos has gone a long way for him.
Hugo Broos Consistently Showed Faith in Him
When the Belgian started his tenure as the Bafana Bafana head coach, he made it a priority to call up previously overlooked players from lower divisions. This is how Nkosinathi Sibisi received his first call-up to the national team while he was still the captain of Golden Arrows in 2021.
His performances for Bafana Bafana helped him secure a transfer to Orlando Pirates in 2022.
“It’s been quite a journey with the coach, and I’d like to thank him for the support he has shown me and the belief he had in me for the months when I had not been playing, and he had been calling me up.
“For me, it was just to repay him and try to produce the results and help the team as much as I can, whether it is on the field or off it, I give my best,” Sibisi added.
If Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, should Nkosinathi Sibisi be a starting defender at the event?
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