FCSB’s Siyabonga Ngezana. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
Tuesday Feb 10, 2026. 15:00
Bafana Bafana defender Siyabonga Ngezana’s hopes of participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a blow, as he is expected to serve six weeks on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.
The FCSB center back reportedly felt pain in his knee ahead of his team’s Romanian Liga1 clash against Botosani last Thursday and went down during warm-up. He was withdrawn from the starting XI.
The 28-year-old was forced to undergo surgery due to a damaged meniscus and is expected to be out for six weeks, according to FCSB head coach Mihai Stoica.
“Ngezana will undergo surgery. I think he will be out for about 6 weeks,” said Stoica, as per Soccer Laduma.
The 60-year-old tactician stated that the injury now explains Ngezana’s drop in performance following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“He has a meniscus injury. Now it is explained. It is incomprehensible that he, probably thinking about the national team, forced himself, played like that, did not play at the level he used to.
“We don’t understand why such a valuable player would have such a steep decline, but he was injured and playing with problems. At least now the mystery has been solved.”
The 28-year-old started all four of South Africa’s matches at AFCON and featured in Bafana Bafana’s successful FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ngezana will be hoping for a swift recovery that sees him back healthy and playing before the South African squad is announced for the global showpiece that kicks-off in June in the USA, Canada and Mexico.