Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will only announce his squad to face Liberia in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 16 March, iDiski Times has learnt.
Unlike ahead of previous international camps, Broos and his technical team have seemingly decided not to announce an initial preliminary squad, which many expected to be announced this week.
In what will be the first since he was appointed in May 2021 on a five-year deal, the Belgian tactician will only announce his final squad for the double-header against Liberia, according to iDiski Times sources.
The former Cameroon coach has been seen watching matches all over the country with his assistant coach Helman Mkhalele.
This publication understands, Bafana will face Liberia on 24 March at Orlando Stadium, with the venue yet to be confirmed by the South African Football Association.
They will play in this historic venue for the first time since November 2019 when they beat Sudan 1-0 via a goal scored by Lebohang Phiri in the 2021 AFCON qualifying round.
The return leg against Liberia will take place at Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia four days later, in what will be the second and third Group K matches after both Bafana and Liberia initially lost to Morocco.
One of the new faces who are expected to be called up by coach Broos for the first time are Cassius Mailula, who is having a blinder of the season with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Another is Neo Maema, who has been outstanding for Sundowns, too, this season. Monnapule Saleng is also set to be back in the side, having scored eight league goals for Orlando Pirates, just like the young and exciting Mailula.
Others set to be recalled are Percy Tau, who is now fit for his club Al Ahly, where he had been hampered by injuries for a long time.
Njablo Blom, who left Kaizer Chiefs to join St Louis City in the Major League Soccer, where he has won two opening matches under Bradley Carnell, is another who is expected to be called up. As is Lyle Foster, who completed a big money move to Burnley from Belgium side Westerlo.
A win in both matches for Bafana will see them book their spot in the AFCON finals in Ivory Coast next year after the group was narrowed to three teams after Zimbabwe failed to overturn their FIFA ban.
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Bafana and Liberia have met twice before, with Mzansi winning once (2-1) and drawing the other (1-1) in 2000 for the 2002 AFCON finals. Liberia’s great George Weah, who is now the country’s president, was the coach then.
