Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has named his second preliminary squad, with several new players called up for two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.
South Africa will play Kenya on 13 November and again on 17 November, according to ESPN. The squad has 38 players across all positions.
Mosimane, 62, started his time in charge with AFCON qualifying wins over Guinea and Eritrea. His team also beat Egypt in a friendly match.
Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is back in the squad after an injury. Aden McCarthy, Boitumelo Radiopane, Nqaba Xulu, Luke le Roux and Thalente Mbatha have also been called up.
Nkosikhona Radebe, Devin Titus and goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa complete the list of new names, ESPN reported.
McCarthy has played regularly at centre-back for Sabah in the UEFA Champions League. Radiopane and Xulu have been scoring goals for Orlando Pirates and Richards Bay.
Titus has made a strong start at MAS Fes in Morocco. Mbatha has returned from injury. Le Roux has joined Cercle Brugge after he struggled to get game time at Portsmouth.
Radebe, who plays for AmaZulu, gives the coach another right-back option. Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau is still recovering from injury. Mbanjwa has started the season well in goal for Golden Arrows.
Forward Yanela Mbuthuma and Shandre Campbell were left out of the squad. ESPN said both players had lost form at their clubs since the last international break.
Midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel kept his place after he played well during the last international break. Lyle Foster was named in a second straight preliminary squad.
Foster missed the final squad last time while he was moving on loan from Burnley to Houston Dynamo.
Before Mosimane was appointed, former coach Hugo Broos spoke to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad about the choice.
“But they know that if he comes in, they’ll go five years back in time. Club owners and agents calling coaches to influence the squad selection. I threw all of them out,” Broos said.
Mosimane did not respond to the claims, ESPN reported. Instead, he praised Broos for his record as Bafana Bafana coach.
Under Broos, South Africa finished third at AFCON 2023, which was held in Ivory Coast in early 2024. The team also reached the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
The goalkeepers in the new squad are Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Gass and Mbanjwa. The forwards include Iqraam Rayners, Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Themba Zwane and Tshepang Moremi.
In midfield, Mosimane picked Teboho Mokoena, Lebohang Maboe, Sphephelo Sithole, Bathusi Aubaas, Poggenpoel, Mbatha and le Roux.
Bafana Bafana face Kenya in the first of the two qualifiers on 13 November.
Source: this article is based on reporting by ESPN. Image: ESPN. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.