Exclusive: Petersen Set to Replace Chaine in Bafana Bafana’s World Cup Roster
Sportswire has announced that Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is likely to be part of the final Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, provided he stays injury-free in the upcoming matches.
This news isn’t shocking, considering that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos had previously considered including Petersen for the two friendly matches against Panama in March; however, he was unavailable due to appendix surgery.
Since his return, Petersen has been crucial for Chiefs, making a vital late save that helped secure a draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in a thrilling Betway Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
This performance likely caught Broos’ attention, as he observed the game from the VIP suite alongside assistant coach Helman Mkhalele.
Reports suggest that Petersen is anticipated to take Sipho Chaine’s place when Broos announces his final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
This scenario follows Chaine’s remarkable achievement of breaking the Orlando Pirates’ record for the most clean sheets in a single season. He recorded his 18th clean sheet as Pirates secured a 2-0 victory against Stellenbosch on Tuesday, surpassing Moeneeb Josephs’ previous club record of 17 set during the 2009/10 season.
Chaine has also matched the PSL single-season clean sheet record of 18, originally set by Mamelodi Sundowns’ captain Ronwen Williams in the 2022/23 season.
Following the triumph over Stellenbosch, Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his hope for Chaine’s inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad.
However, sources from Sportswire indicate that these accomplishments may not sway Broos’ selections.
Reports suggest that Chaine may have undermined his chances and relationship with Broos during the Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco from December to January.
Chaine allegedly created tensions within the national team by questioning the favoritism shown towards Sundowns players, including captain Ronwen Williams.
Another player reported as a concern during the tournament was Sipho Mbule. Previous reports have indicated that Mbule is also likely to be excluded from the World Cup squad after not leveraging his opportunities and causing disciplinary issues during AFCON.
While Broos has not explicitly voiced his concerns, he acknowledged after the tournament that certain aspects of team discipline and conduct had left him dissatisfied.
In contrast, Petersen has consistently advocated for national team selection this season, with his performances greatly aiding Amakhosi’s current third-place standing in the league.
Despite facing some injury-related setbacks, Petersen has made 28 appearances across all competitions, achieving 15 clean sheets.
Currently, Broos is expected to announce a goalkeeping lineup that includes Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, and Brandon Petersen later this month.
Bafana Bafana will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against co-hosts Mexico on June 11.
