Mali coach hints at Bafana's not-so-secret trump card: 'They are not to be underestimated'

Mali head coach Eric Chelle contends that the fact that the majority of Bafana Bafana's squad refine their skills within the realm of the DStv Premiership isn't a drawback.

Instead, he hints that this is the ace up South Africa's sleeve at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The two nations open their Afcon campaigns against each other in Group E on Tuesday night.

READ | How Bafana Bafana went from no-hopers to Afcon dark horses

Twenty of the 23 players selected by Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos are home-based. The exceptions are Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/Portugal), and Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol/Cyprus).

Goalkeepers: 22-Ricardo Goss (SuperSport Utd), 16-Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), 1-Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: 18-Grant Kekana, 3-Terrence Mashego, 6-Aubrey Modiba, 20-Khuliso Mudau, 14-Mothobi Mvala (all Sundowns), 19-Nkosinathi Sibisi, (Orlando Pirates), 2-Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune Utd), 5-Siyanda Xulu (SuperSport)

Midfielders: 12-Thapelo Maseko, 4-Teboho Mokoena, 23-Thapelo Morena (all Sundowns), 8-Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch), 15-Thabang Monare (Pirates), 13-Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/POR)

Forwards: 17-Zakhele Lepasa, 9-Evidence Makgopa (both Pirates), 7-Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), 21-Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol/CYP), 10-Percy Tau (Al Ahly/EGY), 11-Themba Zwane (Sundowns)

Within the domestic contingent, 10 players represent Mamelodi Sundowns, while five are part of the Orlando Pirates squad.

"They all play in the same league," Chelle, a former defender, told the media during Mali's press conference.

"We respect this team as they are former winners of the competition. They may not have a lot of players overseas.

"The fact that they play in the same league means that they know