{
  "id": 20114140,
  "title": "Benni McCarthy backs Lyle Foster to break his Bafana Bafana goalscoring record",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/benni-mccarthy-backs-lyle-foster-to-break-his-bafana-bafana",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T04:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-11-15-benni-mccarthy-backs-lyle-foster-to-break-his-bafana-bafana-goalscoring-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Benni McCarthy remains confident that Lyle Foster has the potential to surpass his Bafana Bafana all-time goal-scoring record. McCarthy, who scored 31 goals during his international career, believes that Foster needs the necessary support from teammates to excel. Despite retiring from international football over a decade ago, McCarthy's record still stands, with only Shaun Bartlett coming close with 29 goals. The current active players with more goals than Foster are Themba Zwane (12), Foster himself (10), and Teboho Mokoena (10). Foster has recently shown his worth by assisting in Bafana's 2-2 draw with McCarthy's Kenya in an AFCON qualifier. McCarthy acknowledges Foster's improved form and attributes it to his growing confidence. He emphasizes that Foster needs the right service and a team that plays to his strengths. McCarthy points out that modern teams often employ inverted wingers, reducing the number of crosses needed for goal-scoring opportunities. He suggests that Bafana needs to adapt their attacking approach and provide more service for Foster to have a realistic chance of breaking his record.",
  "summary": "Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy still backs Lyle Foster to break his 31-goal record, provided the team adjusts its inverted-winger tactics to give him service.",
  "key_points": [
    "Benni McCarthy confident Lyle Foster can break his goal-scoring record.",
    "Foster needs support from teammates to excel.",
    "Foster's recent form improved due to growing confidence."
  ],
  "editors_take": "McCarthy’s endorsement highlights that breaking long-standing international scoring records requires a tactical shift toward providing more direct service to a striker within the modern attacking framework.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}