With Bafana Bafana securing their first World Cup qualification since
2002, the spotlight turns to the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL)
representation on the global stage. While South Africa’s own squad will be
heavily comprised of PSL-based players, the league will see a disappointing
lack of other international stars heading to the 2026 finals.
The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, with Africa receiving nine
direct qualifying spots, had raised hopes for a broader representation of
Southern African talent, particularly from the PSL. However, these hopes
have been dashed, as Bafana Bafana stand as the sole Southern African
qualifier.
The continent’s slots were once again dominated by North and West African
nations. Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Algeria qualified from the north,
while Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal—the region’s usual contenders—will be
joined by first-time qualifiers Cape Verde.
This regional outcome means that, apart from the South African national
team, there are virtually no other PSL players who will be showcasing their
talents in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next June.
This trend is not new. In the 2022 World Cup, no PSL-based players outside
the Bafana squad (who did not qualify) participated. The 2018 tournament in
Russia featured only one: Chippa United’s Nigerian goalkeeper, Daniel
Akpeyi. The 2014 edition had a slightly better showing with two—Orlando
Pirates’ Fatau Dauda and Mamelodi Sundowns’ loanee Rashid Sumaila, both
representing Ghana.
There remains one final hope for additional PSL representation. Chippa
United’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, is currently in the Nigerian squad,
which is bidding to secure the tenth and final African spot through the
upcoming CAF play-offs.
