Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named his final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, leaving out Burnley forward Lyle Foster.
Broos has named a 23-man squad that will compete in Group E at AFCON, with Mali, Tunisia and Namibia being their opponents as they look to reach the knockout phase of the competition in Ivory Coast. The Bafana mentor announced his squad from Belgium, as he is spending time with family for the festive season.
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The team will meet on January 4 and will start training the following day to start preparing for the competition. Broos has confirmed that South Africa will play against Lesotho on January 10 in a friendly international.
Foster, who is one of South Africa's key strikers, is not part of the team having recently had mental health problems, as confirmed by Premier League club Burnley a few weeks ago. Despite returning to action recently, Broos confirmed that he had a conversation with Burnley manager Vincent Kompany and it was decided that the striker would not feature at AFCON for 'medical reasons'.
This is a big blow for Bafana, who will have Zakhele Lepasa and Evidence Makgopa as their target men upfront, with Percy Tau and Mihlali Mayambela as support strikers for the team.
Broos has made the surprising inclusion of Stellenbosch midfielder Jayden Adams in his squad, with Polokwane City attacker Oswin Appolis also making the final cut having recently been called up to the side.
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The three players that are on standby for the competition are Tapelo Xoki, Sibongseni Mthethwa and Elias Mokwana.
FINAL SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, Ricardo Goss
Defenders
Sydney Mobbie, Grant Kekana, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Siyanda Xulu, Terrence Mashego, Khuliso Mudau
Midfielders
Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Sphephelo Sithole, Thapelo Morena, Thapelo Maseko, Thabang Monare
Strikers
Mihlali Mayambela, Themba Zwane, Evidence Makgopa, Percy Tau, Zakhele Lepasa, Oswin Appollis
Standby players
Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Elias Mokwana, Tapelo Xoki
