AFCON 2019: South Africa names 23-man squad to battle Super Eagles [Full List]

South Africa have announced their 23-man squad for next week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.

The game is billed for the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on November 17.

Bafana Bafana head coach, Stuart Baxter, on Monday, admitted that he has found it difficult to put together a squad for the fixture, following injuries to key members of his side.

Baxter has had to re-arrange his squad due to injuries to several of his key players, the latest being Brentford midfielder, Kamohelo Mokotjo.

Other key players set to miss this fixture are: Dean Furman, Bongani Zungu, Keagan Dolly, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Bradley Grobler, who are all out with long term injuries.

“It has really been a tough task to select the team to face Nigeria without some of our regular players, but we have to soldier on. These injuries could not have come at the worst of times when we really need to collect all three points because we are well aware the importance of doing this,” Baxter told the official website of the South Africa Football Federation.

“The positive side, however, is that this gives us a chance to introduce other players into the squad, and these are players we have been monitoring, so it not like a knee-jerk reaction.

“This helps us to ensure that when we qualify for the tournament we have an even bigger pool of players to choose from. I am also confident that the players brought in will do a good job.”

Bafana Bafana beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in the reverse fixture last year, but Gernot Rohr’s men have bounced back and now top the group with nine points.

“I must admit this makes the upcoming clash all the more interesting. Remember we beat them 2-0 in the first leg in their backyard, so they will come here trying to avenge that, on the other hand we want to regain the top spot which we relinquished with the draw away to Seychelles. The good thing is that qualification is still in our hands,” Baxter added.

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits.

Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Motjeka Madisha (Sundowns), Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Wits), Innocent Maela (Pirates), S’fiso Hlanti(Wits), Buhle Mkhwanazi (Wits) Thamsanqa Mkhize (CT City).

Midfielders: Vincent Pule (Pirates), Lebohang Maboe (Sundowns), Hlompho Kekana (Sundowns), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg), Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport), Tiyani Mabunda (Sundowns), Thulani Serero (Vitesse), Thembinkosi Lorch (Pirates).

Strikers: Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg), Percy Tau (Royal Union), Dino Ndlovu (Zhejiang), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns).

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