South Africa defender back from injury, but is it already too late for World Cup 2026?
For a long spell, Ngezana had looked like South Africa's first-choice partner for Mbekezeli Mbokazi at the heart of defence. The former Kaizer Chiefs defender had established himself as one of the more trusted pieces in Bafana Bafana's back line, offering calmness, physicality , and familiarity with the demands of international football.
That is what made his knee injury in late January such a badly timed setback. It ruled him out of the March friendlies against Panama and left Broos openly unsure over whether the defender would be able to recover in time, not only to become fit again but to build enough playing minutes to prove he was ready for a tournament as demanding as the World Cup.
That concern still has not disappeared, but on Monday , there was at least a small step forward. Ngezana made his return from the bench for the Romanian side FCSB, coming on for the final 12 minutes of a 3-2 away win over Farul Constanța . It was his first appearance since late January when FCSB drew 1-1 at home with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe .
The comeback itself was modest in terms of minutes, but significant in terms of timing. At this stage, every appearance matters. Ngezana is not just trying to regain fitness. He is trying to remind both club and country that he can still be relied upon after such a long absence. For central defenders especially, rhythm and sharpness matter almost as much as pure physical recovery, and that usually takes more than a cameo or two.
The broader context around FCSB also adds another layer to his situation.
The Romanian club remains in the mix for a place in European competition next season. Monday's result kept them top of the relegation play-off table, which may sound unusual for a club of their stature, but it still carries significance. In Romania's league structure, the top six teams after the regular 30-match season enter a championship play-off, while the next section competes in a relegation play-off that can still lead into European qualification through further play-off matches.
FCSB finished seventh and therefore missed out on the title play-off, a disappointing outcome for a club that had won the Romanian title in the previous two seasons with Ngezana as a regular starter in both campaigns. That drop has made the 2025-26 season frustrating for both the team and the player, especially after starting the year in the Champions League before dropping into the Europa League.
In other words, Ngezana is returning not to a settled success story, but to a season that already feels slightly off course. Even so, the fact he is back at all gives him a chance.
Whether that chance is enough is another question. Broos will not only be looking at whether Ngezana is available, but whether he is truly ready, sharp enough, tested enough , and physically secure enough to step into a World Cup environment with confidence. Three months out is a long time, and the competition for places does not pause while one player recovers.
That is why the coming weeks are so important. Every training session, every substitute appearance , and every sign of normal rhythm returning could influence how South Africa views him before the final decisions are made.
For now, Ngezana has done the first part ; he is back. The harder part is proving it is not too late.
