Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has publicly backed striker Lyle Foster after the forward missed a penalty in South Africa’s goalless draw against Nicaragua in a friendly international played in Johannesburg on Friday night.

The result was disappointing for Bafana, who were widely expected to dominate the lower-ranked Central American side, especially in their final home-based warm-up match ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The key moment of the match came just before half-time when Foster struck the upright from the penalty spot, denying Bafana a chance to take the lead.Following the match, much of the criticism from supporters and pundits focused on the Burnley striker’s missed opportunity.

However, Broos was quick to defend his player, stressing that penalty situations in training can never fully replicate the pressure of a competitive match.He insisted that Foster remains a reliable penalty taker and said he would never single out or blame a player for missing from the spot.

Broos highlighted that even among his World Cup squad, only a few players may miss penalties under pressure, reinforcing his belief that such moments are part of the game.

Bafana are now set to face Jamaica in their final warm-up fixture before heading to Mexico, where they will prepare for their opening World Cup group match against the hosts at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

Foster is expected to remain central to Bafana’s attacking plans, but competition for the striker role remains, with Evidence Makgopa and Iqraam Rayners also options for Broos should form become an issue.

The coach will be hoping his main striker finds his scoring touch before the global tournament begins, as expectations rise for Bafana’s performance on the world stage.