4 September 2018 – Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter has called up Bidvest Wits striker Mxolisi Macuphu to replace the injured Lebo Mothiba who plays for French Ligue 1 side Lille FC.
Macuphu becomes the fourth player to be called up as a replacement following the arrival of Tiyani Mabunda (Hlompho Kekana), Aubrey Modiba (Bongani Zungu) and Vincent Pule (Themba Zwane) – and all three have already had their first training with Bafana Bafana.
The Bidvest Wits player is expected in Durban tonight (Tuesday, 4 September), and he becomes the second uncapped player in the squad after Pule.
Bafana Bafana take on Libya on Saturday, 8 September 2018 in a 2018 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, which will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban at 15h00.
Despite the withdrawals, the players were in high spirits at their second training session at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, since landing in Durban on Monday (3 September).
“The mood is excellent in camp, all the guys are here. When the coach spoke to us first time when we arrived in camp he said whoever is not here there is nothing we can do about it, and there is a reason why the guys that are coming in have been selected. They have proven their quality, so we are looking forward to the match this weekend,” said goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
“We want to qualify, we want to put the points on the board. It’s our home game and we would like to put the disappointment of last year behind us, and we want to start on a positive note.”
Bafana Bafana will have a practice match against PSL side Amazulu on Wednesday, 5 September at the Princess Magogo Stadium so that Baxter can fine-tune his squad and get his combinations correct.
Meanwhile, Libya has arrived in South Africa and is currently training in Johannesburg. They are expected in Durban on Thursday (6 September) afternoon to continue with preparations for their clash with South Africa.
The two sides have never met before, and are currently tied on three points each following victories in their opening match in Group E of the qualifiers last year. Bafana Bafana defeated Nigeria while the North Africans brushed aside the Seychelles.