Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced a preliminary squad of 38 players for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The squad is dominated by some star Mamelodi Sundowns players including the league Best Goalkeeper award recipient, Ronwen Williams and Midfielder, Teboho Mokwena amongst others.
Some of the surprise inclusions announced by Broos are the three Kaizer Chiefs players, Bruce Bvuma, Given Msimango and Chiefs’ new signing, Rushwin Dortley.
Drawn in Group K, South Africa’s opponents consist of Uganda, Congo, and South Sudan.
Bafana will begin their qualifiers campaign against Uganda on 06 September at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The team will then make their way to South Sudan for their second match scheduled for 10 September.
Broos said they will exercise caution during their matches, to double their chances of qualifying for the competition that will be held in Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026.
“When we look at our performance in the AFCON in the beginning of the year in Ivory Coast where we achieved the bronze medal, and in the following games, I think we can be very confident.
It will be important to achieve our level, our good level of the last few months, we have to say that from this group we have to qualify for AFCON 25 in Morocco,” said Broos.
Bafana are currently ranked 10th in the continent, after claiming third place during the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Coach Broos is set to reduce the squad down to 23 players before the beginning of the games.
