English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Français (Afrique)Season over for Bok big gun
A Springbok forward has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
RG Snyman will play no further part in Leinster’s 2025-26 campaign after suffering a right knee injury in a heavy collision during the second half of their defeat to the Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun.
Leinster coach Leo Cullen confirmed the setback, suggesting the towering South African faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
AFRICA PICKS: URC Round 14 – Betting preview
“He will be out for a while. I will probably get a full report out next week. Unfortunately, he is going to miss a while,” Cullen said.
“It is different from his other leg [ACL, left knee] that he would have injured previously. He could be out for a while.”
Asked if he would be surprised to see the Bok feature again this term, Cullen said: “Yeah.”
Snyman remains under contract at Leinster for another season.
TEAM: Ireland trio bolster Munster for Bulls battle
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Season over for Bok big gun appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Eben set for Sharks return
The Sharks’ quest to reach the Vodacom URC playoffs will be boosted by the imminent return of Eben Etzebeth.
The Springbok lock is closing in on the end of his 12-week suspension after being found guilty of eye-gouging Alex Mann during the Boks’ final Test of the 2025 season.
Etzebeth has been sidelined ever since that 73-0 win and has missed 11 games for the Sharks, including fixtures in both the Investec Champions Cup and the URC.
AFRICA PICKS: URC Round 14 – Betting preview
Friday night’s clash against Cardiff at Kings Park will mark the final match of his suspension, leaving him free to return for next week’s Challenge Cup round-of-16 encounter against Connacht.
It’s a timely boost for coach JP Pietersen as his side heads into a crucial stretch of the season.
POLL: How many SA teams will make URC playoffs?
Currently sitting 11th on the URC standings, the Sharks face an uphill battle to break into the top eight – likely needing to win their remaining five matches.
A strong finish could prove vital ahead of Pietersen’s first full season in charge, with Champions Cup qualification still within reach.
There is also an alternative route back into Europe’s premier competition: winning the Challenge Cup, which the Sharks did in the 2023-24 season.
ALSO: JP sweats on Siya injury
Etzebeth’s return can’t come soon enough.
The Sharks are currently dealing with a growing injury list, with several Springboks unavailable, including Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams and Siya Kolisi.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Eben set for Sharks return appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Bafana Bafana Begin World Cup Odyssey
DURBAN, South Africa – The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins tonight at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Bafana Bafana return to action for the first time since their disappointing AFCON exit, facing off against Central American side Panama in the first of two high-stakes international friendlies.
With the World Cup in North America just three months away, coach Hugo Broos and captain Ronwen Williams have made one thing clear: this is more than just a friendly, it is a mission to reclaim the team’s identity and set a firm target for global success.
Group A Ambitions: "We Want to Pass"
South Africa faces a daunting task in June, having been drawn into Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and a yet-to-be-determined UEFA playoff winner. However, a defiant Hugo Broos is not intimidated by the “big country” status of his opponents.
Explaining his strategy for the expanded tournament format, Broos noted that the possibility of qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams changes the mathematical landscape.
“The motivation and the feeling is the same. You want to pass the group stages. That is our goal,” Broos stated. “If we have a chance to be second or first, we will do it. But we know if we don’t achieve that in that group, there is still third place. We want to survive the group stages. Let that be clear.”
A Search for Lost Identity
For captain Ronwen Williams, tonight’s 7:00 PM kick-off is about healing the wounds of their recent 2-1 defeat to Cameroon in Morocco. Williams admitted that the squad spent the last three months in deep reflection, realizing they had strayed from the values that made them successful.
“It was a painful three months. We had to check where we got it wrong and find our identity as a team again,” Williams explained. “The training and energy have been amazing this week. We’ve built a very good thing in the last few years, and we let the coach down at AFCON. Now is the time to get that trust back and stick to the values that put us among the best.”
Squad News: MLS Duo Sidelined
While Broos has named a formidable squad, he confirmed that US-based stars Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire) and Bongokuhle Hlongwane will sit out tonight’s opener. The decision is purely logistical, citing the grueling travel and a seven-hour time difference from the States.
“It is not a tactical decision, nor are they sick,” Broos clarified. “Those guys need a little bit of time to recover, but they will be there next Tuesday for the second game in Cape Town.”
History in the Making
Tonight marks only the second time these two nations have met. Their only previous encounter came 21 years ago during the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where a developmental Bafana squad lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Interestingly, the only active link to that 2005 clash is Stellenbosch FC’s veteran keeper Lee Langeveldt, who travelled as a teenager in the squad coached by Stuart Baxter.
As Bafana Bafana step onto the pitch in Durban tonight, they aren’t just playing for a result; they are playing to prove that the “identity” Williams spoke of is back, just in time for the world stage.
For More South African Sports News: Sport South Africa Home Page
For More South African Football News: Football
The post Bafana Bafana Begin World Cup Odyssey appeared first on South Africa Sports News and Blog Site | South Africa Sport.
Mukuru states Four Nations Tournament sponsorship objective
International financial services firm Mukuru has explained the objective of its sponsorship of the Nations Tournament scheduled for Botswana.
The week-long competition will pool the hosts the Zebras, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe from March 28 to 31.
Pasuwa has handed maiden senior national team call-ups to defenders Dan Sandukira, Hermas Masinja and Charles Mafaiti, as well as forward Wallace Adam.
Read More : https://t.co/9wjp4fyoiG pic.twitter.com/3h9hDZlKC0
— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) March 5, 2026
Ahead of the tournament, the Zimbabwe Football Association announced Mukuru as the headline sponsor.
Mukuru and Four Nations Tournament synergy
In an interview with Pan-Africa Football, Rhett Delaney, Head of Brand & Product Marketing for Mukuru said the company is funding the competition to contribute to football development in the COSAFA block. Teams in the region often struggle to compete with the big boys of the continental partly due to ill preparations.
“As you know, three of these countries, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, recently competed at the [Africa Cup of Nations] AFCON finals in Morocco. Mukuru takes great pride in this milestone, not only as a moment of achievement, but as a reflection of the region’s growing football potential,” Delaney said.
What Mukuru seeks to achieve
He said Mukuru hopes to help the participating teams prepare for the 2027 AFCON qualifying matches which are now in the preliminary phase.
“Building on this momentum, Mukuru is committed to playing a meaningful developmental role by supporting the continued growth of football across the SADC region, investing in opportunities that nurture talent, strengthen competition, and elevate the game at all levels,” he said.
Save for Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia were part of the 2025 AFCON finalists in Morocco.
However, the three teams struggled at the tournament where they failed to get past the group stage.
So average was the performance of the three teams they failed to register a win before they bowed out.
Barrages Coupe du Monde 2026 : Les affiches des finales connues
Les affiches des finales des barrages de la zone Europe pour la Coupe du Monde 2026 sont désormais officielles. Quatre rencontres décisives attendent les amateurs de football, avec à la clé une qualification directe pour le Mondial. Bosnie-Herzégovine sera l’adversaire de l’Italie. La Bosnie-Herzégovine affrontera l’Italie dans une confrontation qui s’annonce explosive. Les Italiens, habitués des grandes compétitions, devront se méfier d’une équipe bosnienne déterminée à créer l’exploit. Dans les autres rencontres, la Suède sera opposée à la Pologne dans un duel équilibré entre deux nations solides. Le Kosovo, de son côté, défiera la Turquie, tandis que la République tchèque croisera le Danemark pour une affiche très disputée. Ces finales de barrages s’annoncent palpitantes, avec un enjeu unique qui est une place pour la Coupe du Monde 2026. Les affiches de la finale des barrages de la Coupe du Monde 2026 en Europe : Suède vs Pologne Bosnie-Herzégovine vs Italie Kosovo vs Turquie République Tchèque vs Danemark
L’article Barrages Coupe du Monde 2026 : Les affiches des finales connues est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.