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Bafana blow as Mothiba out of African Cup of Nations

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Lebo Mothiba of South Africa during the 2023 International Football Friendly between Ivory Coast and South Africa at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 17 October 2023 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
  • Post published:December 20, 2023

With Lyle Foster unlikely to make the trip to the Ivory Coast next month, there is another huge setback for Bafana Bafana ahead of the African Cup of Nations finals with Lebo Mothiba ruled out of the tournament after being hurt in Ligue 1 action on Sunday.

“Lebo Mothiba suffered a fractured patella in Sunday’s win against Lorient,” his French club Strasbourg said in a statement. “After successfully undergoing surgery, our striker will be unavailable for a period of several months.”

Foster and Mothiba were both named in the preliminary squad of 50 that coach Hugo Broos released last week, but Foster is expected to stay away given his recent mental health issues at Burnley, even though he return to action on Saturday and played the second half of the 2-0 home loss to Everton.

It seems like then that Bafana’s lead forwards at the finals in Ivory Coast will be the Orlando Pirates duo of Zakhele Lepasa and Evidence Makgopa, which will hardly inspire confidence from fans.

Mothiba suffered a serious knee injury in mid-2020, that required surgery, and suffered a relapse a year later. This season was the first time he was back to regular action and, as a result, won a recall to the national squad.