Lorenz Köhler is back on The Bettor Pod, and this time the whiteboard is full of Bafana names. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad almost locked in, Lorenz did what every SA soccer fan has been doing at the braai for weeks: pick the starting XI.
He went one step further. Two formations, two different teams, with a real argument for each. Here are Lorenz Köhler’s predicted Bafana Bafana line-ups for the 2026 World Cup, and what they say about how Hugo Broos might actually set up when the tournament starts.
Quick answer: Lorenz picks two XIs. The first is the preferred 4-3-2-1 Broos has used through the qualifying campaign. The second is the back-three look from the Cameroon friendly, with Mofokeng and Appollis as a double-10 behind Foster.
Both teams keep Ronwen Williams in goal and Lyle Foster at the top. Most of the squad is already settled. The fight is for the wide right and the centre-back rotation.
The context Lorenz is working from
This is not pure guesswork. Lorenz is reading the room from the Panama friendly window, the AFCON campaign that ended at the last-16 stage, and a Hugo Broos hint in the press room that “there is still an opportunity for some players to sneak their way into the final squad.”
Lorenz also asked Broos directly whether he would experiment with the back three he tried against Cameroon. The coach’s answer: “We will see as time goes by.” That single line is why two XIs exist on this whiteboard instead of one.
The injury picture matters too. Siphesihle Ngezana and Rushine de Reuck, both involved in the qualifying campaign, are injury concerns. That opens up real questions at centre back, which is where most of Lorenz’s analysis sits.
Lorenz Köhler’s first XI: the preferred 4-3-2-1
Shape: 4-3-2-1, the formation Broos has used most over the last five years.
| Position | Lorenz’s pick |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ronwen Williams (captain) |
| Right back | Khuliso Mudau |
| Right centre back | Grant Kekana |
| Left centre back | Mbekezeli Mbokazi |
| Left back | Aubrey Modiba |
| Central midfield | Teboho Mokoena |
| Central midfield | Jayden Adams |
| Number 10 | Themba Zwane (if fit) |
| Left wide | Oswin Appollis |
| Right wide | Thapelo Morena |
| Striker | Lyle Foster |
The picks worth talking about:
- Grant Kekana at right centre back. Lorenz says experience wins over youth here, especially with Ngezana and de Reuck both fighting their bodies. Ime Okon is his backup option if Kekana cannot get back to full sharpness.
- Jayden Adams next to Mokoena. Recent form puts Adams in. The Stellenbosch midfielder has earned his spot through the qualifiers and a strong AFCON run.
- Themba Zwane as the 10. Lorenz is straight about this one: “If he can stay fit, I do think he starts as 10.” Fitness is the whole story.
- Thapelo Morena on the right. The pick most people will argue about. Lorenz prefers Morena over Elias Mokwana, Mihlali Mayambela and Percy Tau because of the Sundowns right-side partnership working well in the CAF Champions League. Continuity over reputation.
The rest of the XI is locked in. Williams, Mudau, Mbokazi, Modiba, Mokoena, Foster and Appollis are not seriously up for debate. That is roughly two-thirds of a World Cup starting team most SA fans already agree on.
Lorenz Köhler’s second XI: the back three
Shape: back three with wing-backs and a double-10 behind the striker. The Cameroon experiment.
| Position | Lorenz’s pick |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ronwen Williams |
| Right centre back | Ime Okon |
| Central centre back | Grant Kekana |
| Left centre back | Mbekezeli Mbokazi |
| Right wing back | Khuliso Mudau |
| Left wing back | Aubrey Modiba |
| Central midfield | Teboho Mokoena |
| Central midfield | Jayden Adams |
| Double 10 | Oswin Appollis |
| Double 10 | Relebohile Mofokeng |
| Striker | Lyle Foster |
Why this version matters, in Lorenz’s words: “This is a formation that looked really good and fluid against Cameroon. We created a lot of chances in the opening stages of the game, but we did fall to a 2-1 defeat.” The result hurt, the structure did not.
The standout call is using Ime Okon on the right of the back three. Lorenz argues that is the position Okon already plays at club level, so the move makes sense for a player still building international rhythm.
The other big change is the introduction of Relebohile Mofokeng. The Orlando Pirates teenager is one of the most exciting players in South African soccer right now, and Lorenz believes a double-10 with Mofokeng alongside Appollis is the cleanest way to get him into the team without forcing a square peg into a round hole. Broos has said Mofokeng is a 10 but with Themba Zwane in the squad, his minutes are squeezed. The back three solves that.
Lorenz’s case for the back three: more attacking players, more possession, better defensive shape, and a real position for Mofokeng. The case against: tactical complexity at the highest level Bafana have ever played at.
Players Lorenz left on the bubble
Worth tracking, because any of these could push their way in between now and the tournament:
- Centre backs: Olwethu Makhanya, Nkosinathi Sibisi, and “CBC” (Lorenz’s shorthand for one of the depth options he expects in the squad).
- Right wide attackers: Elias Mokwana, Mihlali Mayambela, Percy Tau.
- Forward depth: Bafana have options if Lyle Foster does not find form, but Lorenz keeps Foster as the starter on the basis of AFCON goals and qualifying contribution.
What Lorenz’s picks mean for SA bettors
This is the half of the conversation The Bettor Pod is built for. Squad shapes change how you read the markets.
If Broos goes with the 4-3-2-1
One striker, a 10, two wide players. That setup tends to lean on Foster and Appollis for goals. Markets like “Lyle Foster to score anytime” and “Oswin Appollis anytime” become more interesting because two attacking outlets carry the load. Bafana in tighter games, low total-goal lines (under 2.5) become friendlier.
If Broos goes with the back three
More attacking players on the pitch usually means more shots and more chances created. Mofokeng and Appollis as a double-10 behind Foster opens up “both teams to score” and over 2.5 markets. The risk: a back three is harder to defend with at World Cup level, so the same shape that creates more goals can concede more too.
None of this is a tip. Odds move closer to kick-off, line-ups can change late, and team news is the most important data point. Markets may change. Always check the latest before placing a bet.
Watch the full episode
Lorenz Köhler hosts The Bettor Pod on the official 10bet YouTube channel. The full squad-prediction episode walks through every name, his reasoning, and a couple of opinions he is happy to defend. Worth a watch if you want the full picture before you back Bafana at the 2026 World Cup.
FAQs
Who is Lorenz Köhler?
Lorenz Köhler (also written Lorenz Kohler in SA media) is a South African soccer journalist and the host of The Bettor Pod, 10bet’s video series on Bafana Bafana, the PSL, and major tournaments. He covers Bafana from the press room and from the studio.
Has Hugo Broos confirmed the formation for the 2026 World Cup?
No. Broos’s preferred shape during the qualifying campaign has been a 4-3-2-1, but he experimented with a back three against Cameroon and has not closed the door on either. His exact words in the press room: “We will see as time goes by.”
Who is the Bafana captain?
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. He keeps the armband in both of Lorenz’s predicted XIs.
Is Themba Zwane in the squad?
According to Lorenz, Zwane is back and fit, and if he stays that way he starts as the number 10 in the preferred formation. Fitness across the next set of fixtures will decide it.
What about Relebohile Mofokeng?
Lorenz believes the back three is the easiest way to fit Mofokeng into the starting XI. In the 4-3-2-1, Zwane occupies the 10 role. In the back-three shape, Mofokeng and Appollis play as a double-10 behind Lyle Foster.
Will Bafana play with a back three at the World Cup?
Possibly. Broos used it against Cameroon and praised the structure even after a 2-1 loss. Lorenz expects to see both shapes used across the tournament depending on the opposition.
Whichever XI Broos picks, the markets will be there. Browse current Bafana and World Cup 2026 odds on 10bet and back the side that has been ours since 2010.
For more guides, read our Bafana 2026 squad piece, the Belief campaign post, and the full World Cup 2026 betting guide for South African players.
