Lyle Foster impresses in his Premier League debut. Image: @TurfCastPodcast
Hugo Broos opens the door for Foster’s Bafana Bafana return
Hugo Broos has hinted Lyle Foster could return to Bafana Bafana ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.
Lyle Foster impresses in his Premier League debut. Image: @TurfCastPodcast
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has hinted that Burnley striker Lyle Foster could return to the national team.
The 71-year-old coach was frustrated over the striker’s unavailability during the African Cup of Nations in January.
Foster missed seven games for Burnley late in 2023 due to mental fatigue but returned mid-December.
Following his return, the former Orlando Pirates junior player ruled himself out of Afcon but continued to play club football.
Hugo Broos questioned Burnley’s reports regarding Foster’s readiness for Bafana.
The 23-year-old sat out a few matches for his club but returned last weekend in a 2-1 win over Brentford.
“I saw that he played I think 10 minutes during the Saturday game. That means his injury problems are over,” Broos told media this week.
Foster might return to Bafana Bafana, says Hugo Broos
“I will try to have contact in the next days or week with Kompany and maybe when I’m in Belgium I can go and see a game of Burnley.
“And also, to talk to Foster and talk to Kompany and see what we can expect in the future from him, certainly looking at the games in June,” he said.
Last month, it appeared as if Hugo Broos had pulled the plug on Foster’s Bafana career.
South African Football Association(Safa) also intervened on the matter.
“Obviously if we had Foster, it would have been a good addition to the squad but I don’t know the details why it was not possible for him to play for his club and not his country,” said Safa president Danny Jordaan.
“And we would have to investigate whether, if it was the club or himself, and we then have to take a decision.”
Bafana are in action on Thursday against Andorra however Hugo Broos was unable to select Foster.
