South Africa have not qualified for a World Cup since the 2002 event, and former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela believes that the current side could finally make it.
Talking exclusively to Soccer Laduma in a one on one interview, Mphela had played in the 2010 Fifa World Cup where South Africa participated automatically as hosts.
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'Killer' has given high praise to coach Hugo Broos since Bafana came home with the bronze medal after the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
"It has been a while since Bafana Bafana played the way they have been doing lately. They showed at Afcon that they can compete with the so-called big teams in the continent and beat them," Mphela told the Siya crew.
"That's why I am saying that with the way the team is playing and performing coach Hugo (Broos) can take us to the World Cup. All what we need is to keep him and continue the consistency in the team.
"He knows what he is doing and we can't afford to lose him now. We need a coach like him now more than ever," Mphela observed.
The striker, who is one of Bafana Bafana's best ever finishers, added that what the team needs to do is win all their home games in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
"Winning at home is the most important thing when you are in such a group. You know when you win your home games half the job is fine and you pick up games which you can win away as well and draw some but make sure you win your home games.
"And looking at the way we played in the Afcon qualifiers I believe we can do that and qualify for the next World Cup. Coach Broos knows what he is doing and he has proved that since he joined the team," Mphela concluded.
South Africa is in Group C for the qualifiers together with neighbours Zimbabwe, Lesotho, as well as Nigeria, Benin and Rwanda.
