Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has been handed a dilemma following the injuries and withdrawal of four key players ahead of their crunch Afcon qualifier against Libya.
Bafana will be up against the Tuareg on Saturday afternoon, but they will be without the injured Themba Zwane, Bongani Zungu, Hlompho Kekana and Lebogang Mothiba.
READ: Baxter threatens to report Strasbourg over Mothiba
After a famous 2-0 victory over Nigeria in Uyo in their opening group clash, Baxter’s men will be aiming to go top of the group when they face current leaders Libya, who thrashed Seychelles 5-1 in Cairo in June last year.
Bafana camps have always been tricky for the coach in charge, who has to deal with a myriad of challenges in getting the players from their clubs, especially European-based players.
Speaking to the media, Baxter admitted that the injuries were a massive blow.
‘We didn’t have a good day in terms of players being injured at the last moment.
READ: Pule, Modiba and Mabunda replace injured Bafana stars
‘I got a text from the sporting director at Amiens yesterday [Sunday], saying that he was watching the game and Bongani Zungu twisted his knee. It looks like he has ligament damage. That was not a good one,’ said Baxter.
‘I was watching the game between Sundowns and Cape Town City, I saw Themba Zwane going down with a dislocated toe. I was told by the doctor that it can go again and the risk is high, and therefore he has returned home.
‘Hlompho Kekana has got a massive haematoma on his thigh. He can’t even drive his car. He is also out.’
Lebogang Mothiba has also withdrawn through an injury. Baxter, however, has called Mothiba’s new club Strasbourg ‘amateurish’ for their failure to provide him with the necessary proof of the injury.
The former Kaizer Chiefs coach admitted that the national team could report the French club to Fifa should they not provide the necessary documentation.
Baxter has called up Aubrey Modiba (SuperSport United), Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates), Tiyani Mabunda (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Mxolisi Macuphu (Bidvest Wits) to replace the injured quartet.
READ: Zungu, Zwane withdrawn from Bafana squad
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
