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Mosimane names first preliminary Bafana Bafana squad ahead of crucial AFCON qualifiers
Newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has named his first preliminary squad, with South Africa preparing for a compressed three-match window that will open his second spell in charge.
The 35-man group was released on Friday, 4 September, days after Mosimane was formally unveiled as successor to Hugo Broos. Bafana Bafana host Guinea on Saturday, 26 September in their opening 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, travel to face Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September, then stay on the road for an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October (kick-off 20:00 SA time).
South Africa sit in Group D with Guinea, Eritrea, and co-hosts Kenya. Kenya are already through to the 2027 finals in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, so only one other place is available from the group. That makes the September double-header a high-stakes start.
Mosimane has kept the spine of the side that reached the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. About 20 of those players remain in the preliminary list, including captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Iqraam Rayners, and Relebohile Mofokeng. Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss complete the goalkeeping trio.
He has had little choice but to refresh parts of the squad. Several World Cup regulars are unavailable, among them Khuliso Mudau, Evidence Makgopa, Thalente Mbatha, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Bradley Cross, while the late Jayden Adams also leaves a midfield gap. New and returning names include Fawaaz Basadien, Orlando Pirates’ Cemran Dansin and Yanela Mbuthuma, Golden Arrows striker Ronaldo van Neel, Puso Dithejane, Cassius Mailula, and Luther Singh. Kaizer Chiefs have only one representative: Lebohang Maboe.
The Egypt fixture adds extra colour. The sides last met in December 2025 at AFCON, when Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave the Pharaohs a 1-0 win. Mosimane is well known in Cairo after winning back-to-back CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly. SAFA president Danny Jordaan said that history “will add another twist” to an already demanding trip.
The preliminary list will be trimmed before camp. Mosimane has said he is not looking to sweep away Broos’ foundation, but the next three weeks will show which of the new faces survive into his first matchday squad.