A former Bafana Bafana player believes Lyle Foster is in the right type of form to get a start as the main man upfront for the national team in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Uganda.
Iqraam Rayners started upfront when Bafana played the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe and the Siya crew understands that head coach Hugo Broos felt that the striker was in good form and in the right head space to start the matches ahead of Foster.
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Rayners, who is now a Mamelodi Sundowns player, was in good form for his former club Stellenbosch, as he ended the campaign as the second top scorer behind Orlando Pirates' Tshegofatso Mabasa in the league.
With Bafana set to play their opening Group K qualifier against Uganda at Orlando Stadium tonight, Lebohang Mokoena feels the striker is in good form at Burnley in the English Championship to get the nod from Broos.
"Looking at Lyle (Foster), we must be grateful that he overcame what he went through. I think that might have hampered his progress in the national team. He has not really done much for the national team, but as you know we are struggling for that number nine and currently he is doing well in his team and I think he still has a lot to prove to a lot of South Africans," Mokoena said to the Siya crew.
"You have Rayners who is also there, but I think Lyle has a bit more experience, so I think he would be the one to start the game. I am hoping he can deliver. I just think he needs to transfer his performances to the national team. He has got quality players around him in the national team to give him service and he just needs to finish. He holds up play well and makes good runs and he can finish. I think he will do well.
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"He has always been that prospect to fill the big shoes left by the likes of Benni (McCarthy), (Siyabonga) Nomvethe, (Phil) Masinga. We haven't really had a number nine who is banging in the goals for us, so I hope he can step in and fill in those shoes."
