Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter and the South African U23 coach, David Notoane, who will oversee the Cosafa Cup team, announced their selections for the upcoming period during which Bafana will be competing in the Cosafa Cup and the African Cup of Nations.
The South Africa national team are set to participate in two tournaments, firstly, the Cosafa Cup tournament which takes place in Durban this month, and then the Afcon which gets under way in June. Baxter announced two separate squads for the Cosafa Cup and Afcon.
Bafana will again host the Cosafa Cup which gets under way this week before travelling to Egypt where they will begin their preparations for the Afcon tournament next month after they were drawn in Group D alongside the likes of Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Namibia.
Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari has been rewarded with a call-up to the provisional 30-man squad, after his impressive performance for the Buccanneers this season. The squad are set to be cut down to 23 players before Bafana depart for Egypt.
Fortune Makaringe’s form for Maritzburg United has earned him a place in the squad, while Cape Town City striker Kermit Erasmus has also been included in the training squad.
Kaizer Chiefs shot-stopper Bruce Bvuma has maintained his place in the squad as a third-choice goalkeeper, covering for Ronwen Williams and Darren Keet.
Joel Unteresee and Nikola Tavares have been included in the squad provided that they can get the proper documentation before the tournament kicks off.
Here are the players who will represent South Africa at the Afcon, with the final squad set to be reduced to 23 players:
Bafana Bafana prep squad for Afcon 2019:
Head coach for Afcon: Stuart Baxter:
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits ), Rowen Williams (SuperSport United), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs).
Defenders: Daniel Cardoso (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits ), Buhle Mkhawanazi (Bidvest Wits), Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City ).
Midfielders: Bongani Zungu (Amiens), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford), Tiyani Mabunda (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Serero (Vitesse), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg United), Ben Motshwari (Orlando Pirates), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier).
Strikers: Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg), Percy Tau (Royal St Union), Lars Veldwijk (Sparta Rotterdam), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Cape Town City).
Meanwhile, Baxter has selected a relatively youthful squad for the Cosafa Cup tournament, but has retained the core of the team that participated in the same tournament a year ago.
The South African Football Association (Safa) confirmed that the South Africa U23 coach David Notoane will be in charge of the team to represent Bafana Bafana at this year’s edition of the Cosafa Cup.
Bafana Bafana Squad for the 2019 Cosafa Cup:
Head coach for Cosafa Cup: David Notoane
Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto (Bloemfontein Celtic), Darren Johnson (Ajax Cape Town), Reyaad Pieterse (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Defenders: Thendo Mukumela (Ajax Cape Town), Keanu Cupido (Cape Town City), Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs), Tercious Malepe (Chippa United), Katlego Mohamme (SuperSport United), Bongani Sam (Bloemfontein Celtic), Sandie Mthethwa (Richards Bay).
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Athenkosi Dlala (SuperSport United), Kegan Dolly (Montpellier), Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United), Kamohelo Mahlatsi (SuperSport United), Grant Margeman (Ajax Cape Town), Jamie Webber (SuperSport United), Kgaogelo Sekgota (Vitoria Setubal, (Portugal).
Strikers: Phakamani Mahlambi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lerato Lepasa (TS Galaxy), Jemondre Dickens (Baroka), Luther Singh GD Chaves, Portugal), Liam Jordan (Koge FC, Denmark).
