Afcon 2021Q: South Africa beef up squad ahead of Ghana, Sudan ties

South Africa head coach, Molefi Ntseki has called up 5 more players to the national set-up to beef up the squad ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan this week.

Bafana Bafana play the Black Stars of Ghana on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at FNB Stadium (kickoff 16h00 GMT) before flying to Sudan for the final match against the hosts in Khartoum on Sunday, March 28.

With certain players still having issues to travel to South Africa due to COVID-19 restrictions, coach Ntseki has decided to add five more new faces to the squad.

Strikers Lebo Maboe and Thabiso Kutumela have been called up as replacements for injured Kermit Erasmus and Bradley Grobler while Thabo Nodada, Mothobi Mvala and Vincent Pule have been added to the squad.

Team Doctor, Dr Thulani Ngwenya said while there were some issues regarding certain overseas-based players, they were busy negotiating with respective teams to make sure that all called-up players are available for the upcoming games.

Good news for Bafana Bafana was the early arrival of star striker Percy Tau who plays in England for Brighton & Hove Albion. Tau jetted into the country on Monday morning and joined his teammates for some video analysis session.

Bafana Bafana will train this afternoon at Discovery Park (13h30 GMT) in Sandton and tomorrow at FNB Stadium at 16h00. They will round off their preparations on Wednesday with another training session at the match venue at 14h00 while the visitors (Ghana) will train at 16h00.

Soon after the Ghana match, Bafana Bafana leaves the country for Sudan, via Ethiopia and return home soon after the match on Sunday.

Updated squad:

Goalkeepers: Veli Mothwa (Amazulu FC), Ronwen Williams (Supersport Utd), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders: Thibang Phete (OS Belenenses SAD, Portugal), Siyanda Xulu (Haopel Tel Aviv, Israel), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Orlando Pirates), Musa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Sfiso Hlanti (Swallows), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Craig Martin (Cape Town City)

Midfielders: Rivaldo Coetzee (Mamelodi Sundowns), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Serero (Al Jazira FC, Abu Dhabi), Ben Motshwari (Orlando Pirates), Bongani Zungu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier FC, France), Percy Tau (Brighton and Hove Albion, England), Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United), Andile Jali (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luther Singh (Braga FC, Portugal), Dean Furman (Carlisle United, England), Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates), Thabo Nodada (Cape Town City), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Strikers: Lebo Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabiso Kutumela (Maritzburg United), Ruzaigh Gamildien (Swallows) Lyle Foster (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal)

 

 

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