Hugo Broos has named the 23-man squad for Bafana Bafana ahead of their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.
The squad reflects a blend of seasoned players and fresh talent, underlining South Africa’s ambition to secure a spot at the continental tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Notable inclusions in the squad are Rushwin Dortley, a recent signing for Kaizer Chiefs, and Thalente Mbatha, a midfielder from Orlando Pirates.
Dortley’s selection is particularly surprising, given he was not named in the initial 38-man preliminary squad but has now been called up to replace his new club mate, Given Msimango.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC’s left-back Fawaaz Basadien, who is also a target for Chiefs, has earned his place in the team.
Mbatha makes his first appearance in the national squad after catching the eye of Broos and his technical team with impressive performances in recent MTN8 fixtures.
However, some notable names are absent from the squad this time. Percy Tau of Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Bathusi Aubaas, who were part of the squad that drew with Nigeria and defeated Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, have been left out.
In defence, Ronwen Williams misses out due to injury, with Sipho Chaine from Orlando Pirates stepping in to compete with regulars Ricardo Goss and Veli Mothwa for the goalkeeper position.
Bafana Bafana will host Uganda at Orlando Stadium on Friday, September 6, with the match being broadcast live on SABC 3 at 18:00.
They will then travel to Juba to face South Sudan on Tuesday, September 10, with that match airing live on SABC 1 at 15:00 South African time.
The squad’s composition reflects Coach Broos’ intent to mix youth and experience as Bafana Bafana aims to navigate these crucial qualifiers and secure their spot in the upcoming AFCON tournament.