Mosimane To Announce Bafana Final Squad On Thursday
Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane will announce his final squad on Thursday for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Kenya.
Mosimane had announced the preliminary squad last month for both matches.
South Africa, who recently surged to 48th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, currently top Group D after a perfect start to their qualifying campaign in September. Mosimane’s charges kicked off their qualifiers with a 2-1 victory over Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena before delivering a commanding 5-0 win over Eritrea in Cairo, alongside a 1-0 friendly win over host nation Egypt.
Seeking to maintain their momentum, South Africa will host Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, 13 November, before traveling to Nairobi for the return match on Tuesday, 17 November.
Key squad additions include Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Thalante Mbatha, who both return to national duty following injury lay-offs.
However, lingering injury concerns surround core starters, particularly Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena has missed Sundowns’ last three matches after sustaining an injury during a goalless CAF Champions League preliminary clash against Angolan outfit Wiliete SC on 18 October.
While Mokoena featured in September’s 2-1 win over Guinea, he missed the subsequent fixtures against Eritrea and Egypt because of the muscle injury.
Similarly, Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has been absent from Sundowns’ starting lineup for their last two matches, with coach Miguel Cardoso opting for Ricardo Goss in goal. Goss was named in Mosimane’s preliminary squad, while Williams was rested during the friendly win over Egypt to allow rotation.
Mosimane’s final squad selection on Thursday will reveal whether both key Sundowns figures are deemed match-fit to feature in this critical qualifying window.
Bafana Bafana will assembly on Sunday, which the majority of those players made up from local clubs, and the international joining on Monday.
