Bafana
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South Africa head coach Hugo Broos says he will resign from the job if they don’t secure a place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
“If we lose both games, five minutes after the game I’m on the flight to Belgium. You can be sure of it,” said Broos. “If we can’t win, okay Uganda [away is tough], but at home against South Sudan, I tell you I will immediately take a flight and you will never see me again.”
Broos named his final 23-player squad for the two games on Thursday, 7 November 2024 and he welcomed goalkeeper Sage Stephens to the team as he steps in to replace the injured Ricardo Goss.
“These two games are very important. We can qualify for AFCON in Uganda if we win, but if we don’t, then we have to do it against South Sudan at home. So, these games are very important,” he said.
“It is also important for me that I can always count on nearly the same players. They know how we work, and they know what we ask from them in a game. So, there is no adaptation. You also create friendships between players when you always have nearly the same players.
“Now we have a new player in goalkeeper Sage Stephens because Ricardo Goss is injured. So, we had to choose a replacement. He deserves to be here because he delivers fantastic performances with Stellenbosch. I’m sure that he will adapt very quickly to this group.
“So, again, we will try to win the first game in Uganda so that when we come back, we have already qualified, and we have a relaxed game against South Sudan.”
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Sage Stephens is the latest addition to the Bafana Bafana set-up and the goalkeeper said it took some time for the news to sink in when he got confirmation of his call-up.
Stephen is part of the South African senior men’s national team that will face Uganda away from home on Friday, 15 November 2024 and South Sudan at DHL Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday 19 November in Cape Town.
He said he had to choke back the tears when it finally hit home that he would be part of the Bafana Bafana squad that is in the final stretch of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Morocco next year.
“The first person I spoke to was my wife. The reaction? Actually, I couldn’t believe it. Funny enough, as I said before in my interviews, I said the same thing, like, I can only control my performances. Ultimately, the decision lies with the coach and as we all respect, the coach has done a magnificent job,” he said.
“When I saw my name there for the first time officially, I was very emotional. I don’t want to say it aloud, but I had to choke back a few tears, you know, because it’s a very special moment for me, it’s a big achievement for me personally, and I’m just so grateful for it.”
Evidence Makgopa is happy to be back in the Bafana Bafana fold after missing the last few camps due to injury.
Coach Hugo Broos has never hidden his faith in Makgopa and he said the big striker was missed, and his return gives the national team more options up front.
“The only thing I can say is, you don’t want to disappoint such a person who has faith in you,” Makgopa said. “So, the only thing that you have to do for him is just to push. When he gives you a chance, you just have to work for him and do whatever you have to do.”
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While Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos agrees that beating Uganda in their own backyard on Friday will be tough, he remains confident that his charges can carry out the assignment in Kampala on Friday.
Broos’ charges face Uganda away from home in Kampala on Friday, 15 November 2024, and then return home to tackle South Sudan at DHL Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday 19 November in Cape Town in matches that could see the South African senior men’s national team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Morocco next year.
The Belgian mentor had his first training session with his players on the opening day of camp in Johannesburg on Monday, and he said he has absolute confidence in his players and believes they can secure qualification on Friday.
“We can end 2024 on a fantastic note. We started the year very well with the bronze medal (at the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire) and it would be nice to end it with qualification for AFCON again,” he said.
“We will try to qualify in the first game (against Uganda). It will not be easy because we are playing against an opponent who is already qualified, and who is confident.
“I think they played very good qualifiers, and they are playing at home. But in the past, we succeeded in winning difficult games and we know we can do it because we have quality in the team.”
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Mihlali Mayambela has been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad after he picked up an injury while playing for his Cypriot club Aris Limassol at the weekend.
The South African senior men’s national team face Uganda away from home on 15 November 2024 and South Sudan at DHL Stadium on 19 November in Cape Town in matches that could see coach Hugo Broos’ charges qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Morocco next year.
Broos and team manager Vincent Tseka confirmed to www.safa.net that Mayambela – who made the final 23 list named a few days ago – will no longer join his team-mates this week.
“Unfortunately, Mayambela will not join us in camp, and he will be replaced by Devin Titus from Stellenbosch FC,” Broos said on Monday.
The Bafana Bafana manager said an SOS has been sent to Titus’ club and he is already on the way to Johannesburg to join the team in camp.
The team assembles in Johannesburg on Monday, 11 November 2024 and will begin training on the same day ahead of the away qualifier against Uganda on Friday.
They will travel by charter on Thursday morning and return to South Africa on Saturday, 16 November.
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Eight Mamelodi Sundowns men have been named in the South African Men’s National Team final squad for their upcoming fixtures in the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON)Qualifiers.
The Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, has included Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas, Iqraam Rayners and Thapelo Morena in his final 23-men squad roster for the matches.
Hugo Broos and his men are set to play two fixtures, one on the 15th of November 2024 in Kampala, Uganda, against Uganda (kick-off at 15H00).
The following fixture will be against South Sudan on the 19th of November 2024 in Cape Town (kick-off at 15H00).
Currently second-placed in the Group K tally, pitted against Uganda, Congo and South Sudan, South Africa will look to win at least one of their final two matches to qualify for the continental showpiece.
The entire Mamelodi Sundowns family would like to wish the eight men, together with the rest of the Bafana Bafana team, all the best ahead of the two fixtures in their quest to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.
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Hugo Broos has set his sights on getting Bafana Bafana across the finish line when his charges play their last two matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign this month.
The South African senior men’s national team face Uganda away from home on 15 November 2024 and South Sudan at DHL Stadium on 19 November in Cape Town in matches that could see Broos’ charges qualify for the AFCON to be held in Morocco next year.
Broos named his final 23-player squad for the two games on Thursday, 7 November 2024 and he welcomed goalkeeper Sage Stephens to the team as he steps in to replace the injured Ricardo Goss.
“These two games are very important. We can qualify for AFCON in Uganda if we win, but if we don’t, then we have to do it against South Sudan at home. So, these games are very important,” he said.
“It is also important for me that I can always count on nearly the same players. They know how we work, and they know what we ask from them in a game. So, there is no adaptation. You also create friendships between players when you always have nearly the same players.
“Now we have a new player in goalkeeper Sage Stephens because Ricardo Goss is injured. So, we had to choose a replacement. He deserves to be here because he delivers fantastic performances with Stellenbosch. I’m sure that he will adapt very quickly to this group.
“So, again, we will try to win the first game in Uganda so that when we come back, we have already qualified, and we have a relaxed game against South Sudan.”
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Orlando Pirates players will once again be at the heart of the action in the upcoming set of Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.
A total of eight Buccaneers have received call-ups ahead of the November international break, headlined by the final two rounds of fixtures in the race for spots in the continental showpiece held in Morocco next year.
Three nations will have some representation from the current Bucs setup, following squad announcements made by the respective national coaches of Angola, Namibia and South Africa over the past week. Bafana Bafana leads the call-ups with six players from the Pirates squad named in coach Hugo Broos’s 23-man lineup.
In among them is in-form striker Evidence Makgopa who makes a return to the squad, having last featured during the previous AFCON tournament earlier in the year.
The 24-year-old strengthened his cause with a match-winning strike in club colours earlier in the week, taking his goal tally for the season to six across competitions.He is one of three Pirates forwards named in the squad, with Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng also making the cut after featuring throughout the ongoing qualifiers.
Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is also retained alongside defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, while midfielder Thalente Mbatha returns after pulling out of the previous squad through injury.South Africa are currently second in Group K and travel to Uganda on Friday, 15 November for a top-of-the-table battle at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
They round up their qualifiers by welcoming South Sudan to Cape Town the following Tuesday. For Angola, attacking midfielder Gilberto is the sole Bucs player in the squad named by Pedro Gonçalves earlier in the week. This is after returning to the fold during the Palancas Negras’ back-to-back victories against Niger in October when he made late cameos in each of the two fixtures.
The wins helped them book their spot in the showpiece event, and they will be looking to maintain their perfect record as they host Ghana before departing for their final clash against Sudan.
Namibia meanwhile have included the experienced Deon Hotto ahead of dead-rubber clashes against Cameroon and Kenya. The Brave Warriors dropped out of the race for places in Morocco after losing to Zimbabwe home and away with both games played at Orlando Stadium.
With only pride to play for in the upcoming fixtures, the Bucs stalwart will be one their key players as they also look to avoid finishing at the bottom of Group J.
He will be among the first on display when his side hosts the Indomitable Lions in their adopted home in Soweto on Wednesday before jetting off for their closing fixture against the Harambee Stars.
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Bafana Bafana midfielder Themba Zwane will undergo scans at Clinique Médicale SECUREX in Brazzaville on Wednesday to ascertain the extent of the injury he suffered during an away 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday night.
South African senior national team coach Hugo Broos was forced to make a substitution five minutes before the halftime break after Zwane suffered an injury and was replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi at Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville.
Dr Tshepo Molobi, the Bafana Bafana doctor, told www.safa.net that after the scans are completed, Zwane will be ready to travel with the rest of his teammates back to Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Our Chief Medical Officer at SAFA, Dr Thulani Ngwenya, has been in constant communication with Themba’s club Mamelodi Sundowns and has kept their medical team appraised every step of the way. Upon arrival back home in South Africa, all the necessary processes will be made available for Themba,” Dr Molobi said.
Bafana Bafana are still in Brazzaville and will return home later on Wednesday. Coach Broos’ side drew 1-1 with Congo after goals from Elias Mokwana in the 33rd minute and Congolese striker Andre Bassouamina just before the halftime break.
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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has put the emphatic result of his team’s first meeting with Congo Brazzaville behind him and wants his charges to treat Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the same opposition as if they are facing the Central African side for the first time.
Broos’ charges beat the Congolese 5-0 in Gqeberha a few days ago and the Belgian coach expects the hosts to provide a stiffer test when they welcome the South Africans to the 17 000-seater Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville on Tuesday.
“If they lose tomorrow (Tuesday), qualification for AFCON is over for them. We know what to expect against Congo Brazzaville. We are going to play against a team that may be different, and motivated. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a new game,” said the Bafana Bafana coach.
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South Africa captain Ronwen Williams believes Congo Brazzaville should be a different team in front of their fans and Bafana Bafana have to take control of the game very early and keep the fans quiet.
Hugo Broos’ charges beat the Congolese 5-0 in Gqeberha a few days ago and the Mamelodi Sundowns custodian expects the hosts to provide a stiffer test when they welcome the South Africans to the 17 000-seater Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville on Tuesday.
“Obviously we know that we are in a different country, and we are not at home. We can feel it, but we have got the experience, and we know how to deal with playing away,” said Williams.
“We have gained valuable experience over the last few years. We have a group of players that have been together for three years now, so it is for us to go out there and do the best we can do, fight, challenge and be determined in every duel and make sure we keep the fans quiet. The fans can give them energy and boost them.”
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Lyle Foster has been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana team to face Congo Brazzaville on Tuesday.
Foster was injured during the first meeting between the two sides at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
He suffered an injury to his left knee and was subsequently sent to scans for further analysis.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Bafana coach Hugo Broos said: “We will try to achieve six [points] from six and come back from Congo with qualification, it will be a different game certainly on a different pitch also, so we’ll see but if do the same performance like [on Friday], we can win, we can achieve that.”
He added: “You know we’re working together for many months, years, everyone is happy with everybody, I have a fantastic group, the mentality is fantastic and quality is there also. Tuesday is again a match [against Congo], so [on Saturday] we forget the 5-0.”