NEW Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has named his 25-man squad that will face Nigeria in the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on 10 June at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo State, Nigeria (5pm).
Baxter did not make many changes from the squad that played Bafana’s last two International Friendly matches against Guinea-Bissau and Angola in March.
Ronwen Williams, Bongani Zungu and Tokelo Rantie make their come back. Cape Town City’s midfielder who has been having a great season in the Absa Premiership this season Aubrey Ngoma has also been called up.
“I am quite pleased with the squad we have assembled. We have a small element of development with a couple of young players. We also have some players who are returning to the squad, the likes of Zungu and Rantie.
“We have players who have been outstanding in the PSL the whole season, we also have continuity with a number of players that SAFA has invested much time in and we have them in the team. I believe we have a good mix,” said Baxter as quoted by the Safa website.
Baxer’s men assemble for camp on Sunday, 4 June. There will be two training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, before the team jets off on Wednesday, 7 June to Uyo State via Lagos.
Bafana Bafana are expected back in the country on Monday, 12 June.
Their next AFCON fixture will be away to Libya in March next year.
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Ronwen Williams (Supersport United)
Defenders:
Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits), Lorenzo Gordinho (Kaizer Chiefs), Abbubaker Mobara (Orlando Pirates), Tebogo Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits)
Midfielders:
Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keagan Dolly (Montpillier FC, France), Andile Jali (Oostende FC, Belgium) Kamohelo Mokotjo (FC Twente, Netherlands), Dean Furman (Supersport United), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Zungu (Vitoria Guimares, Portugal), Aubrey Ngoma (Cape Town City FC).
Strikers:
Sibusiso Vilakazi, Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Manyama (Cape Town City), Tokelo Rantie (Genclerbirligi FC, Turkey), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Kermit Erasmus (Lens, France)
