Hugo Broos will soon gets to make his biggest decisions since his appointment as Bafana Bafana head coach in May 2021. On Thursday he will announce his 27-man squad to represent South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations starting on January 13 in Ivory Coast.
Last week Broos named a 50-man provisional squad as per the Confederation of African Football mandate.
The final squad of 23 players, with an option to add four to make it 27 for the first time in this tournament, needs to be submitted to Caf by January 3 — 10 days before the tournament kicks off.
I’m making Broos’s job easier by bringing to the fore the players I think we should see when the 71-year-old Belgian, who won the Afcon with Cameroon in 2017, names his final Afcon squad.
Such are Sundowns’ riches and depth that they may force Broos to abandon his favourite player at right back, Nyiko Mobbie of Sekhukhune
You’ll notice that I have included players Broos seems to have forgotten about and I will explain why. You’ll also see that in “my squad” I have omitted strikers Lebo Mothiba (injured) and Lyle Foster, whose coach at Burnley, Vincent Kompay, has insisted he’s in no state to travel to Ivory Coast despite having returned to the team last week.
Goalkeepers
Mamelodi Sundowns’ No 1 and Bafana skipper Ronwen Williams will be supported by Orlando Pirates’ Melusi Buthelezi and Bruce Bvuma of Kaizer Chiefs. Both Buthelezi and Bvuma are late entries into the Bafana squad after recent good performances for the two Soweto giants. Veli Mothwa, the keeper who has been No 2 for a couple of years at Bafana, loses out because of erratic performances that have seen him lose his jersey at AmaZulu FC to young gloveman Olwethu Mzimela.
Defenders
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has made a strong case for Fawaaz Basadien at left back for Bafana. This is a position that Broos has been concerned about since Pirates’ Innocent Maela got injured. Broos will worry less if he has the option of Basadien as a cover for attack-minded Aubrey Modiba. Thapelo Morena is also versatile enough to also play at left back.
Such are Sundowns’ riches and depth that they may force Broos to abandon his favourite player at right back, Nyiko Mobbie of Sekhukhune. Deono van Rooyen of Stellies and the Sundowns duo of Morena and Khuliso Mudau are by far better and more technical than Mobbie, but knowing Broos he may be sentimental about a player he’s named in almost all his squads.
Ime Okon (18) of SuperSport United is the future centre back of Bafana and Broos will have the luxury of including him. Okon will learn from the likes of Ricardo Coetzee, another forgotten multi-talented centre-half that Broos must include in a squad already overflowing with Sundowns players (nine). Mothobi Mvala, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Siyanda Xulu will have to justify why they start ahead of Coetzee, a player I hope Broos doesn’t forget this time.
Midfielders
Jamie Webber of Sekhukhune United is one midfielder I think Broos should consider in his final squad. Webber has been instrumental in the centre of the park for Sekhukhune, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 12 DStv Premiership matches this season. Webber has also shown his class in the Caf Confederation Cup where he’s scored one goal in five matches. He’s a good passer and vital in set pieces.
And with Teboho Mokoena’s position not 10% certain in the team after he suffered an injury after scoring a winner for Sundowns in a Caf Champions League midweek tie against Pyramids FC of Egypt, his club teammate Bongani Zungu is a great option with the experience he earned in the 2019 Afcon. A leaner and fitter Zungu filled Mokoena’s position with aplomb on Tuesday and will be of great value in Ivory Coast.
Strikers
Other than Khanyiso Mayo, Fagrie Lakay and Oswin Appollis, there are no new faces I have included that Broos has not used in recent months. Lakay and Mayo get a chance because of injury to Mothiba and the absence of Foster. They’re both capable of providing support for Percy Tau and company up front.
My complete 27-men Bafana Bafana Afcon squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams; Melusi Buthelezi; Bruce Bvuma
Defenders: Aubrey Modiba; Khuliso Mudau; Deano Van Rooyen; Fawaaz Basadien; Thapelo Morena; Ime Okon; Nkosinathi Sibisi; Mothobi Mvala; Siyanda Xulu; Rivaldo Coetzee
Midfielders: Tebogo Mokoena; Sphephelo Sithole; Jamie Webber; Bongani Zungu; Njabulo Blom
Strikers: Bongokuhle Hlongwane; Khanyiso Mayo; Percy Tau; Mihlali Mayambela; Zakhele Lepasa; Fagrie Lakay; Evidence Makgopa; Themba Zwane; Oswin Appollis
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