29 October 2019 – Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki has named a squad of 25 players to face Ghana and Sudan in back-to-back Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for next month.

South Africa kick-start the journey to the African football’s premier showpiece with an away match against Ghana on Thursday, 14 November 2019 in Accra.

Bafana Bafana will then host Sudan three days later (Sunday, 17 November) at the Orlando Stadium.

Kick-off for that home match is 15h00.

The other country in Group C is Sao Tome e Principe, which South Africa will only meet next year.

Ntseki has selected the bulk of the team that defeated Mali 2-1 in the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge played in Port Elizabeth earlier this month – that was his first assignment as the head coach of Bafana Bafana.

He has brought back defenders Thami Mkhize (Cape Town City) and Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits), – the duo missed the last match due to injuries.

In midfield Bongani Zungu makes a return after he was withdrawn from the past training camp, also due to an injury.

Also being recalled after a long absence is midfielder Aubrey Modiba (Supersport United), who takes the place of the injured Keagan Dolly.

“If it is not broken, why fix it. We have decided to keep the bulk of the team because they already understand what we want to do, and you will recall this will be my third camp with them – even though we did not play a match in the first one, so it was important to keep that consistency as we also don’t have too much to work on things seeing that we are playing two match in a space of three days, which also involves significant travelling,” said Ntseki.

This will be the Bafana Bafana’s 12th meeting against the Black Stars of Ghana, and the third clash against Sudan.

South Africa has beaten the West Africans five times and lost on three occasions, with three matches drawn.

The first encounter was back in 1994 in the Four Nations Cup which Bafana Bafana won 2-1. The last encounter was in 2016, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Durban – it was an international friendly match.

Bafana Bafana have never lost to Sudan.

“These are very crucial matches in that they could determine our destiny in the competition. We have to start on a good footing and avoid playing catch-up as it puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on everyone – the coaching staff, players and the even the fans,” added Ntseki.

“We have to make sure we start positively because winning brings about a lot of energy to the team, which makes the next assignment not easy but more manageable, but I am confident we will do well.”

Bafana Bafana assemble for camp on Sunday, 10 November and depart for Ghana the next day – Monday, 11 November.

They return to South Africa on Friday, 15 November to prepare for the Sudan fixture.

Tickets for that (Sudan) match are already on sale and can be purchased at Computicket outlets, Shoprite and Checkers stores for R40 all round.

BAFANA BAFANA AFCON 2021 FIXTURES:

14 November 2019

Ghana vs South Africa (a) 

17 November 2019 

South Africa vs Sudan (h) 

4 September 2020

South Africa vs Sao Tome e Principe (h) 

8 September 2020

Sao Tome e Principe vs South Africa (a) 

10 October 2020

South Africa vs Ghana (h) 

13 November 2020 

Sudan vs South Africa (a)

SOUTH AFRICA vs GHANA – HEAD-TO-HEAD

P             W           D             L              GF          GA

11           5              3              3              11           10

SOUTH AFRICA VS SUDAN HEAD-TO-HEAD

 P             W           D             L              GF          GA

2              2              0              0              5              1 

SA SENIOR MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM LIST vs Ghana & Sudan

Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

 

POSITIONS

PLAYER’S NAME

               CLUB

 GOALKEEPERS:

1. Darren KEET OH Leuven FC (Belgium)
2. Ronwen WILLIAM Supersport United FC (SA)
3. Ricardo GOSS Bidvest Wits FC (SA)
 DEFENDERS:
4. Erick MATHOHO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)
5. S’fiso HLANTI Bidvest Wits (SA)
6. Buhle MKHWANAZI Bidvest Wits FC (SA)
7. Thulani HLATSHWAYO (C) Bidvest Wits FC (SA)
8. Thapelo MORENA Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
9. Thamsanqa MKHIZE Cape Town City FC (SA)
10. Innocent MAELA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)
11. MOSA LEBUSA Mamelodi Sundowns (SA)
   
 MIDFIELDERS:
12. Kamohelo MOKOTJO Brentfort FC (England)
13. Bongani ZUNGU Amiens FC (France)
14. Thato MOKEKE Cape Town City FC (SA)
15. Dean FURMAN Supersport United FC (SA)
16. Lebohang PHIRI Guingamp FC (France)
17. Mothobi MVALA Highlands Park FC (SA)
18. Themba ZWANE Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
19. Thembinkosi LORCH Orlando Pirates FC (SA)
20. Percy TAU Club Brugge FC (Belgium)
21. Thulani SERERO Al Jazira FC (Abu Dhabi)
22. AUBREY MODIBA Supersport United FC (SA)
   
FORWARDS
23. Lebo MOTHIBA Strasbourg FC (France)
24. Bradley GROBLER Supersport United FC (SA)
25. Kermit ERASMUS Cape Town City FC (SA)