- Molefi Ntseki selects a 26-man Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.
- The Bafana Bafana head coach has made eleven changes from his squad announcement last October.
- South Africa are scheduled to face Ghana and Sudan at the end of the month during the FIFA international break.
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has named a 26-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.
The highly anticipated fixture against the Black Stars will take place on Thursday, 25 March at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Kick-off will be at 18:00.
Three days later, Ntseki's charges fly up north for a tricky away encounter against the Sudanese on Sunday, 28 March at the El Hilal Stadium.
It is Ntseki's first squad announcement since October last year, following AFCON qualifying matches against Sudan (South Africa won 1-0) and Sao Tome and Principe (Bafana Bafana won 4-2).
Itumeleng Khune and Bongani Zungu were the surprise selections after both players breached Covid-19 rules for their respective clubs.
Ntseki also called-up new faces into the squad in the form of Chippa United goalkeeper Veli Mothwa, Cape Town City paceman Craig Martin, Orlando Pirates star Ben Motshwari and SuperSport United midfielder Sipho Mbule.
Meanwhile, Swallows FC forward Ruzaigh Gamildien received his first national call-up in nearly eight years.
Ghana currently hold first place in Group C with South Africa in second, Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe in third and fourth, respectively.
BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Ronwen William (SuperSport United), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs FC).
Defenders: Thibang Phete (Belenenses, Portugal), Siyanda Xulu (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Orlando Pirates), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Sifiso Hlanti (Swallows FC), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Craig Martin (Cape Town City).
Midfielders: Rivaldo Coetzee (Mamelodi Sundowns), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Serero (Al Jazira, Abu Dhabi), Ben Motshwari (Orlando Pirates), Bongani Zungu (Rangers, Scotland), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier, France), Percy Tau (Brighton and Albion, England), Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United), Andile Jali (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luther Singh (Sporting Braga, Portugal), Dean Furman (Carlisle United, England).
Strikers: Kermit Erasmus (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Ruzaigh Gamildien (Swallows FC), Lyle Foster (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal).