Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed frustration after his team was denied the opportunity to train at the match-day venue, in violation of FIFA regulations, ahead of Tuesday’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Training Venue Controversy

As per FIFA’s regulations, teams are entitled to a 60-minute training session at the stadium where their match will be played the day before the fixture. However, Bafana Bafana were unable to do so because Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny was scheduled to host another World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and Gambia on Monday night. This also meant that Benin, Bafana’s opponents, were supposedly unable to train at the venue as well.

Speaking via a SA Football Association press release, Broos voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation:

“I have to tell you I’m not satisfied with the decision that we can’t have a pre-match training session in the stadium where the game takes place. This is a FIFA rule, and every team has the right to a preliminary training session of 60 minutes in the stadium the day before the game.”

While acknowledging the logistical challenge posed by the Ivory Coast–Gambia fixture, Broos criticised the inconsistent enforcement of FIFA’s rules:

“I understand it because there is another game, but this is bad when people who make the rules don’t follow them.”

Will the Setback Affect the Match?

Bafana Bafana currently lead Group C with 10 points and will be determined to secure a victory over second-placed Benin (8 points) to maintain their position. Meanwhile, Nigeria, lurking in fourth place with six points, remains in contention for qualification.

Broos admitted he was unsure whether the setback would impact his team’s performance but stressed the importance of upholding fairness.

“Will that have an influence on the game? I don’t know. But I know that if I fail to attend the press conference tomorrow [Tuesday] after the game, there will be a sanction. So we have to follow the rules.”

“Where are the rules now? And you will tell me, ‘Yes, this applies to both teams’. I don’t think so. I believe Benin has already trained in that stadium because they arrived before us.”

“It’s all well and good to say, ‘follow the rules’. We always have to comply, yet today [Monday] we have been denied our right to train in the match venue. This is not fair, and it is not correct.”