17 local players from South Africa were added to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad on Monday, according to South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who will travel to Morocco on December 21.
Most of the 24 contenders will rely heavily on European footballers, with Senegal’s former champions unlikely to include any from their domestic league.
A 28-man list for the world’s biggest football tournament, which includes two reserving spots on the road, Tylon Smith and Shandre Campbell, and three others who will remain in South Africa, was released by the 73-year-old Belgian tactician.
Both Smith and Campbell play for Belgian top-flight outfit Club Brugge, while Campbell plays for English second-tier club Queens Park Rangers.
In an interview with public broadcaster SABC, Broos stated, “Neither player is likely to participate in the tournament, but I want them to experience life as an international football.”
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While playing in the north African kingdom, teams can choose up to 28 players for the biennial event, but only 23 will receive funding from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) while there.
Broos has backed South African Premiership stars in the same way he did for the 2024 World Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where Bafana Bafana (The Boys) finished third.
The top two spots are currently held by the national league’s halfway-highs of nine teams, including the Orlando Pirates and the Mamelodi Sundowns, who are currently in the top two.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi, a 20-year-old center-back, is reportedly planning to join Chicago Fire after the AFCON.
Only one of the top five European leagues includes Burnley striker Lyle Foster.
In a quarter-final victory over Cape Verde, the 2024 AFCON squad had 10 survivors, including captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four penalty shootout kicks.
Broos stated to the SABC that he hopes to “at least reach the semi-finals once more” from his Belgian home.
In Group B, South Africa squares off against Egypt and Zimbabwe, who are seven-time world champions, and record. The top four of the six third-placed sides, along with the winners and losers, advance to the knockout phase.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Capt. Melodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders: Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Nkosinathi Sibisi (both pirates), Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau (both sundowns), Samukele Kabini (NOR), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), and Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB/ROM).
Oswin Appollis, Thalenthe Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng (all Pirates), Bathusi Aubaas, Teboho Mokoena (both Sundowns), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem/KSA), and Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela/POR) are the midfielders.
Forwards: Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster, Evidence Makgopa, and Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq/KSA), both from Burnley/ENG.
Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers/ENG), and Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge/BEL) are frequent guests.
Non-traveling companions: Mduduzi Shabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Iqraam Rayners (Sundowns), and Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch).
Hugo Broos (BEL) as the coach
Source: Channels TV
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