SAFA Names COSAFA Cup Squad, Chiefs Dominate Selection

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has officially announced the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming COSAFA Cup next month, featuring Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele.

SAFA is currently working diligently to appoint a coach to lead this squad, as senior Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will be in charge of the main national team for two friendly matches next month against Tanzania and Mozambique.

As has been the practice, Broos and his assistant coach Helman Mkhalele have been excused from leading the COSAFA Cup team to allow them to rest and focus on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which resume in September, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations later this year in Morocco.

In the COSAFA Cup squad, Thabo Cele is joined by his Kaizer Chiefs teammate Mduduzi Shabalala.

Also included from Amakhosi is Aden McCarthy, who made his senior club debut before the season concluded. AmaZulu defender Kwanda Mngonyama, a player with extensive experience in this tournament and a former captain, has also been called up despite seeing limited action this season.

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma is another notable inclusion, alongside his teammate Wandile Duba. Chiefs players notably dominate this Bafana Bafana B squad, as the team aims to improve on last year’s performance where they exited in the group stages.

Veteran striker Victor Letsoalo is also in the squad. Letsoalo was part of the Bafana Bafana B side that famously won the COSAFA Cup in 2021 in Port Elizabeth without conceding a single goal.

South Africa has been drawn in Group A due to their superior FIFA and CAF rankings. They will face defending champions Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius in the group stage of the tournament.