Bafana Bafana will face Lesotho in a Cosafa Cup fixture on Saturday, a game which Shakes Mashaba insists is of high importance for his side. 

The Bafana squad is filled with predominantly U23 stars as the players bid to warm-up for the Rio Olympics. Among them, Reyaad Pieterse set to make his debut for the side.

Meanwhile, Menzi Masuku has been called in to replace Mamelodi Sundowns star Keagan Dolly in the squad, as the young winger is on duty with his club in the Caf Champions League.

A win for Bafana would take them through to the semi-final stage of the competition, where they would come up against either Zambia or Swaziland.

‘We cannot expect to win the continental showpiece if you cannot prove your worth within your own region. I want to be very honest, we as South Africans have to prioritize the Cosafa senior tournament,’ Mashaba told SuperSport.

‘Our Association [Safa] is working on what we call Vision 2022, and one of the stepping-stones to achieving that vision is the Cosafa Cup.

‘We have brought a young squad of exciting players and we understand that to reach our target will not be easy but it is possible,’ he concluded.

The game will be played that the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek.

Kick-off is at 16:00.

Bafana Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Jody February, Reyaad Pieterse, Nkosingiphile Gumede

Defenders: Rivaldo Coetzee, Repo Malepe, Themba Sikhakhane, Tebogo Moerane, Kwanda Mngonyama, Siphesihle Stuurman

Midfielders: Tshepo Rikhotso, Abbubaker Mobara, Gift Motupa, Lebogang Phiri, Deolin Mekoa, Phumlani Ntshangase, Menzi Masuku.

Strikers: Maphosa Modiba, Thabiso Kutumela, Lebo Mothiba, Judas Moseamed