Hugo Broos, head coach of the South African national team, announced on Thursday the final squad list for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The 71-year-old Belgian has named 23 players, with three others on standby, as the Bafana Bafana go in search of their second AFCON title in Ivory Coast.
Al Ahly forward Percy Tau, who was voted Interclub Player of the Year at the CAF Awards earlier this month, is the most notable name on the list.
Broos, who led the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to AFCON victory in 2017, believes the players on his final list are good enough to jostle against the continent’s best teams when the tournament begins. saying this is the personnel that will do battle in the West African country against the continent’s best national teams.
“If we do not go past the group stages, we will not be happy, and that is for sure,” the Bafana Bafana coach said after announcing the team.
“I think that has to be the first goal. You know, going past the group stages is one of the most difficult things to do in the tournament.
“It is like that because you are playing against three opponents that are 100 per cent motivated, and they also want to go past the group stage,” Broos added.
The final squad as announced by Coach Hugo Broos earlier today, to compete at #AFCON2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. Congratulations and good luck Bafana Bafana!!! #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/u9cNoZ98dA
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 28, 2023
The squad announced by the former Club Brugge and Anderlecht manager also includes Mamelodi Sundowns stars who won the inaugural African Football League, like Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, and Themba Zwane.
The key omissions in the team include Burnley forward Lyle Foster, who continues to recover from an unspecified mental health issue, and French-based Strasbourg forward Lebo Mothiba, who suffered a knee injury in a Ligue 1 and will be on the sidelines for a lengthy period.
Bafana Bafana are drawn in Group E alongside Mali, Namibia, and North African giant Tunisia.
Bross’ men will resume a five-day training camp in Stellenbosch on January 4, 2024, and end on January 9. They are expected to play a behind-closed-doors friendly against Lesotho at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville before jetting out to Ivory Coast for the tournament on January 11.
Full Squad List
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams; Veli Mothwa; Ricardo Goss
Defenders: Sydney Mobbie; Grant Kekana; Terence Mashego; Nkosinathi Sibisi; Aubrey Modiba; Siyanda Xulu; Mothobi Mvala; Khuliso Mudau
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena; Siphephelo Sithole; Jayden Adams; Thabang Monare; Thapelo Maseko; Thapelo Morena.
Forwards: Themba Zwane; Zakhele Lepasa; Oswin Appollis; Mihlali Mayambela; Percy Tau; Evidence Makgopa.
Standby List: Sibongiseni Mthethwa; Elias Mokwana; Tapelo Xoki
