The reason why Hugo Broos has been overlooking Neo Maema

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has finally spoken out about why he hasn’t been selecting Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema.

The Belgian tactician was speaking on Thursday after announcing the Bafana squad that is set to face Liberia in the AFCON qualifiers.

Since taking over the hot Bafana seat in 2021, Broos has never given the 27-year-old a call-up.

He says Maema has been on his radar since last season yet he has been omitting him because the midfielder wasn’t featuring consistently at his club.

However, he admitted that the left-footer, Maema has elevated his game and his form hasn’t been fluctuating lately.

BAFANA BAFANA HUGO BROOS ON OMITTING NEO MAEMA

“For sure, Maema is playing better and better, since last season we follow Maema,” Broos said.

“But he was in and out. But now his performances are better and more stable.

“So, okay we will see in the future. I hope that my choices in the future will be more difficult every time because that means we have good players.”

This season, Maema has been involved in 29 games that Bafana Ba Style have played across all competitions. He has scored six goals and provided four assists.

Along with Themba Zwane and other Sundowns midfielders, he has been instrumental in playmaking and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

MUDAU AND MKHULISE MISS OUT ON FINAL SQUAD

Meanwhile, two Sundowns players who were in the preliminary squad, Khuliso Mudau and Sphelele Mkhulise missed out on the final squad.

Broos stated that instead of Mudau, he prefers Nyiko Mobbie who has “never disappointed” him both defensively and offensively. 

He feels that the former Black Leopards defender, Mudau is more of an offensive right-back but struggles defensively.

Meanwhile, Mkhulise was left out due to the injury he recently suffered. The attacker has also missed some of the games of the Tshwane giants.

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