Bafana Bafana defender Siyabonga Ngezana has been ruled out for approximately six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury during a warm-up session ahead of FCSB’s Liga 1 clash against Botoșani last week. He was subsequently withdrawn from the starting line-up before kick-off.
His club, FCSB, later confirmed that the centre-back required surgery after suffering a meniscus injury.
Stoica Confirms Timeline
FCSB head coach Mihai Stoica revealed that Ngezana is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks.
“I think he will be out for about six weeks. He has a meniscus injury,” Stoica told local media.
“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.”
Stoica admitted there had been concerns about the defender’s recent performances, which are now understood to have been impacted by the underlying injury.
Blow for Bafana Bafana
The setback comes at a crucial time for South Africa national football team.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Ngezana will be racing against time to regain full fitness and reclaim his place at both club and international level.
He is now likely to miss Bafana Bafana’s scheduled friendly against Panama in March, forcing head coach Hugo Broos to explore alternative defensive options.
While Nkosinathi Sibisi remains a strong candidate to step in, Broos could use the opportunity to introduce another centre-back into the squad as part of long-term planning ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
For Ngezana, the focus will now be on recovery and rehabilitation as he looks to return stronger during a pivotal period in his career.