Maqonda Ndlovu
Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin says captain Peter Shalulile and Lubeni Haukongo will miss the opening two matches of the 2026 Africa World Cup Qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea today and Sao Tome and Principe next week.
Speaking from Malabo, in Equatorial Guinea, Benjamin said Haukongo had a hamstring injury, hence, he will need time to recover.
“It’s a pity that Haukongo couldn’t travel with the squad. He had a hamstring injury, and we couldn’t take that risk. He has to take time to recover, and hopefully he will be in top physical shape next time and be able to come,” Benjamin explained.
Haukongo has been in top form lately, starting the last four consecutive matches for his side Cape Town Spurs, and scoring a goal against Orlando Pirates in their only league victory this season.
The 23-year-old central defender’s career has been marred by injuries since his time with Lille in France, where he suffered a career-threatening quad muscle injury that kept him out of football for almost a year.
Since moving to South Africa in 2021, Haukongo has only played 10 matches (two for Chippa United and eight for Cape Town Spurs).
With regards to Shalulile, Benjamin said the last communication they had with Mamelodi Sundowns indicated that the Brave Warriors captain had suffered an injury in the African Football League second-leg final match against Wydad Casablanca.
“He didn’t travel with the team. His club said he was injured. He is a player with big qualities. But his absence is also an opportunity for other players to lift their hands and say, ‘Coach, I can add value to the squad.’ There are quite a few options on the team to replace him,” Benjamin explained.
The former Hamburg SC player said the World Cup qualifiers are a window for the technical team and players to showcase their readiness to claim a place in the team that will be playing at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in early January.
On plans for the match against Equatorial Guinea, Benjamin said that while he did not have enough time with the whole squad, he was quite confident that the team would come up with the desired result of four points from the first two matches.
“We will do a lot of video analysis and plan how we play with and without the ball. Our squad is professional enough, and they understand the assignment. Whoever is on the field on Wednesday (today) will get the work done,” Benjamin said.
The team arrived in Malabo on Monday afternoon and held their first training session the same day.