A return for familiar faces as Broos names one Bafana debutant for Afcon qualifiers

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has named a 23-man squad for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Sitting second in Group K with eight points, Bafana's path to qualification hinges on two remaining matches.

They will play an away clash against group leaders Uganda (10 points) at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday, 15 November (18:00).

Then, Bafana will play a home fixture - their first in Cape Town in nine years - against fourth-placed South Sudan (0 points) on Tuesday, 19 November (18:00). Congo are third with four points.

The squad Broos has selected will gather this weekend, with players involved in the Carling Knockout semi-final joining on Monday before departing for Uganda on Tuesday for the final FIFA international break of the year.

Broos has retained Ronwen Williams and Sipho Chaine for the goalkeeping line-up while handing Sage Stephens his first senior national team call-up.

Defenders Siyabonga Ngezana and Mothobi Mvala make their return after recovering from injuries.

Thalente Mbatha also earns a consecutive call-up, joining Luke Le Roux in midfield, while Evidence Makgopa also makes his Bafana return to bolster the attack in place of Lyle Foster, who misses out due to injury.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos names his final squad for this month's 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Uganda (away, 15 November 2024) and South Sudan (in Cape Town, 19 November 2024). These are the final matches of the qualifying campaign.#BafanaPride#AFCONqualifiers pic.twitter.com/HANkiTb65r