FILE PHOTO: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will play against Morocco in the Afcon clash tonight. PICTURE: FarPost
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0 JOHANNESBURG: Bafana Bafana and the Atlas Lions have already booked their places for the African showpiece.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has announced his 23-men squad that will face the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco, in the 2023 African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the FNB Stadium, South Africa, on 17 June 2023.
Bafana Bafana and the Atlas Lions have already booked their places for the African showpiece, which will be held in Cote d’Ivoire in January 2024. Therefore, the Group K encounter will be a dead rubber.
Hugo Broos’ men secured qualification after a 2-1 victory against Liberia. Group K’s qualification process was simplified by the ban of Zimbabwe from participating by FIFA. As a result, two out of three countries would qualify instead of a standard group of four. As things stand, Morocco leads the group with six points from two matches, South Africa with four points from three games and Liberia with one point from three matches.
The Belgian tactician trimmed down his squad from the initial preliminary squad that consisted of 34 men he had announced at the end of May 2023. The 23-man team comprises a mixture of youth and experience. However, it is a tried and tested group with the likes of Ronwen Williams, Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, Siyanda Xulu and Innocent Maela.
Supersport United’s Thapelo Maseko has received a maiden call-up to the senior side.
Notable players that did not make the cut are DSTV Premiership joint top goal scorer Khanyisa Mayo (Cape Town City), Miguel Timm (Orlando Pirates) and Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns)
The draw for the tournament will be held on 12 October 2023 in Ivory Coast, where the 24 countries will know their fate and their opponents heading to the continental competition.
Full Bafana Bafan squad list:
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Supersport United) and Veli Mothwa (Amazulu FC).
Defenders: Innocent Maela & Nkosinathi Sibisi (Both Orlando Pirates), Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Siyanda Xulu (Turan Tovuz), Thapelo Morena, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana and Aubrey Modiba (quartet from Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Njabulo Blom (Saint Louis), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bathusi Aubaas (TS Galaxy) and Luke Le Roux (Varbergs Bols)
Strikers: Percy Tau (Al Ahly SC), Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United FC), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol), Zakhele Lepasa and Thapelo Maseko (Both Supersport United) and Themba Zwane and Cassius Mailula (Both Mamelodi Sundowns).
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