Mosimane Unveils 35-Man Bafana Bafana Squad for AFCON Qualifiers
Pitso Mosimane has wasted no time stamping his authority on Bafana Bafana.
Barely days after his appointment as South Africa head coach, Mosimane has unveiled a 35-man preliminary squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as reported by TimesLIVE. It is his first official squad list since taking the reins – and it carries a clear message: evolution, not revolution.
Pamoja opener at home
South Africa will launch their qualifying campaign in the Pamoja tournament – jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – with a home clash against Guinea on 26 September. That fixture will be Mosimane’s first real test, a chance to set the tone in front of home supporters.
Bafana then hit the road to face Eritrea. The twist? Eritrea will play their “home” match in Egypt, forced to move the game because they do not have a suitable stadium on home soil. Neutral ground, but no neutral stakes.
Injury blows to Broos’ core
Mosimane’s options are already being stretched.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Khuliso Mudau, Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa are all missing from the preliminary list due to injury. All four were part of the core group relied upon by former coach Hugo Broos during the 2026 World Cup campaign.
Their absence rips out a chunk of continuity and experience. It also opens the door for fresh faces to force their way into Mosimane’s long-term plans.
New names, new energy
The door has been pushed wide open.
- Lebone Seema
- Tshepo Mashilane
- Jemran Dansin
- Yanela Mutuma
- Cassius Mailula
- Puso Dithejane
- Tashreeq Matthews
- Ronaldo van Niel
- Luther Singh
- Shandre Campbell
all feature among the notable inclusions. For several of them, this is a first real step into the senior national-team spotlight.
Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Lebohang Maboe, who did not make the final 2026 World Cup squad, have also been handed another chance in this extended group. Under a new coach, their international stories may yet be rewritten.
Core of experience stays put
Amid the experimentation, Mosimane has kept a strong spine.
Captain Ronwen Williams is retained, as are Sipho Chaine, Tapelo Morena and Aubrey Modiba. At the back and in midfield, familiar names remain central: Nkosinathi Sibisi, Teboho Mokoena and Sphephelo Sithole all stay in the frame.
Further forward, Relebohile Mofokeng and Themba Zwane keep their places, preserving the creative thread that ran through Bafana’s recent campaigns.
The blend is obvious: established leaders anchoring a group laced with hungry newcomers.
Now the question hangs over this first Mosimane era squad – can this mix of trusted lieutenants and ambitious rookies turn promise into a serious 2027 AFCON charge?
