2026 WCQ: Bafana Bafana suffers another setback of injuries ahead of Zimbabwe, Rwanda Accessories

Bafana Bafana from South Africa has received another massive setback after striker Iqraam Rayners withdrew from the team for medical reasons.

Rayners, 29, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns has been replaced by evidence Makgopa.

“Iqraam Rayners has been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana camp due to medical reasons. He was released back to his club this morning. The Makgopa evidence has been called as his replacement,” Safa said in a statement (through Iol.co.za) on Tuesday morning.

Bafana Bafana will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their penultimate and last qualifiers of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, in Durban and Mbombela, Friday and next Tuesday, respectively.

The South Africa male team needs to win both games convincingly to finish the best of group C and automatically qualify for the global masterpiece for the first time since 2002, having qualified for the 2010 edition simply as hosts.

Chief coach Hugo Broos appointed a relatively strong team of 23 men for the two games last week.

However, he had to deal with two important blows since the team gathered for the camp on Monday in Roodeport.

Rebohile Mofokeng was the first player to be removed from the team after suffering an injury during the 1-0 victory of Orlando Pirates over Siwellele FC.

Since then he has been replaced by his counterpart from Kaizer Chiefs, Mduduzi Shabalala.

On Tuesday morning, news of the camp arose that Rayners had also retired due to a medical problem and will be replaced by Makgopa.