13 October 2019 – Forwards Lebo Mothiba and Percy Tau will not be available for Bafana Bafana in the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Mali this afternoon (Sunday, 13 October) due to injuries.

The duo failed a late fitness test and have not been included in the match day squad.

Mothiba is suffering from a groin injury that has prevented him from completing training sessions since Tuesday, while Tau has niggling tendon injury on both legs.

“This has been one of the most difficult camps ever in terms of injuries, and while we have done the best we can to get all the players ready for this important match, it is unfortunate that Lebo and Percy failed a late fitness test and thus cannot be part of the match day squad. We can only wish them a speedy recovery,” said Bafana Bafana medico Dr Thulani Ngwenya.

This means head coach Molefi Ntseki will have 21 players – including three goalkeepers – to pick from for his first match in charge of Bafana Bafana, a clash that is used to prepare for the AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan next month.

South Africa and Mali meet at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth.

Kickoff is at 15h00.

Bafana Bafana will return to Johannesburg on Monday, 14 October 2019.