South Africa national team coach Shakes Mashaba has selected a 25-man squad that will do battle away to Mauritania on September 5 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Bafana drew 0-0 in their first Group M clash against Gambia in Durban, and will be desperate to get back on the right track with this encounter against Mauritania, as a difficult match against Cameroon awaits the South Africans in March next year.
Coach Mashaba recalled Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela to the squad, which was a surprise inclusion, as the player last donned the Bafana jersey around two years ago.
Due to injuries sustained by goalkeepers Brilliant Khuzwayo of Kaizer Chiefs and Brighton Mhlongo of Orlando Pirates, Mpumalanga Aces keeper Jackson Mabokgwane and Ronwen Williams of SuperSport United have been selected to tend goal, alongside Itumeleng Khune.
SuperSport United’s new midfielder Dean Furman will likely command the midfield alongside Belgium-based Andile Jali, while Lokeren’s Ayanda Patosi and Daylon Classen of 1860 Munich are also available in midfield following their excellent club form.
In attack Thulani Serero of Ajax Amsterdam and Bounermouth striker Tokelo Rantie join local-based forwards Thamsanqa Gabuza from Orlando Pirates and BidVest Wits’ Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Speaking at the press conference where the selection was announced, coach Mashaba addressed his concerns ahead of the match.
“Even though this match comes after a well-deserved rest, not just for the players but also for the technical team, due to the spacing in between, it has also killed the momentum of the team. But I have complete confidence in the players that we have selected and I believe they will deliver,” Mashaba said.
“Some of the players have been on a long break and only started playing recently, but I know we will get the result we want. If you look at the squad we have picked, it is based on the opposition. They recently lost by a narrow margin to Cameroon, which means we cannot take them lightly,” said the coach.
“We need to drum into our players the fact that they should not look at the opposition and stop asking who Mauritania is. Let’s give them the respect they deserve. We need to score first and demoralise them because if they net first they might make it difficult for us to come back. In short we have to go there prepared so we can get a result.”
Full Bafana Squad
Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Aces FC), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)
Defenders: Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Thulani Hlatshwayo (BidVest Wits), Siyabonga Nhlapho (BidVest Wits), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk FC, Belgium), Mzikayise Mashaba (Sundowns), Siyabonga Zulu (Platinum Stars), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Dean Furman (SuperSport United), Andile Jali (KV Oostende FC, Belgium), Bongani Zungu (Sundowns), Mandla Masango (Randers FC, Denmark), Phumlani Ntshangase (BidVest Wits), Jabulani Shongwe (BidVest Wits), Themba Zwane (Sundowns), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren FC, Belgium), Daylon Classen (1860 Munich, Germany)
Strikers: Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Sibusiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits), Tokelo Rantie (AFC Bounermouth, England).
