Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has named a 23-man squad that will play Gambia in the penultimate Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifiers.
This qualifier will also see the return of SuperSport United midfielder Dean Furman to the Bafana fold.
The two nations will lock horns on Saturday, 4 June 2016 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Gambia. Kickoff is at 17h00 local time (19h00 SA Time).
Mashaba will travel with 18 players to Gambia. The first match between South Africa and Gambia ended in a goalless draw in Durban (13 June 2015).
Bafana Bafana currently lie third on the table with three points after four matches. Cameroon leads the pack on 8 points, one more than second-placed Mauritania while Gambia has two points.
“The truth of the matter is we are in a difficult situation, but we have to keep our hopes alive. We have said before that the first two matches (against Gambia and Mauritania) took us off track. Had we done well in those matches, we would be talking a different story today. But we must soldier on and get the remaining six points, then wait and see,” said Mashaba.
Bafana Bafana will start camp on Sunday, 29 May. They depart for Gambia on Tuesday, 31 June 2016.
South Africa will host Mauritania in the last match of the qualifiers in September.
The winner of the group will progress to the 16-nation AFCON finals, along with two best-placed runners up.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Brighton Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Mamelodi Sundowns), Diamond Thopola (Chippa United), Thabo Matlaba Matlaba (Orlando Pirates), Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Teboho Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Andile Jali (KV Oostende), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam), Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), Mandla Masango (Randers FX), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), May Mahlangu (Sint-Truidense).
Strikers: Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits), Ndumiso Mabena (Platinum Stars), Thobani Mncwango (Polokwane City).
Source: SuperSport
