Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is in for a selection headache as he waits to see the condition of the team's Bafana Bafana players ahead of Friday's Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash against Sekhukhune United.
Bafana are due to play Benin in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Ivory Coast today, just three days before Sundowns take on Babina Noko in the Nedbank Cup. The cup clash comes just four days before their CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg against Esperance.
READ: Coetzee Latest: If Sundowns Don't Exercise The Option...
To get to Ivory Coast, Bafana flew on a charter plane to ensure they travel straight to the West African country without having to connect elsewhere or the hassle of airport delays. This means that the team is expected to be back in the country on Wednesday and the Sundowns players could be given a day off to recover before returning to be part of training on Thursday.
Sundowns have eight players in the national team. Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Thapelo Morena, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Bathusi Aubass and Iqraam Rayners are part of the Bafana squad, while Aubrey Modiba had to be withdrawn due to his wife giving birth.
Modiba should be available to feature on Friday, but the rest of the players who are on national team duty will have to be assessed to see if they will be in the right condition to play a match that could potentially go to extra time and penalties, being a cup match.
But with the likes of Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Marcelo Allende, Malibongwe Khoza and Tashreeq Matthews in the team, Sundowns still have players who can get the job done should the Bafana stars not be able to feature. Cardoso can also call on players such as Neo Maema, Sphelele Mkhulise, Mosa Lebusa and Kobamelo Kodisang, who are all eager to impress and get regular game time.
READ: Mothiba Closer To Sundowns Debut?
Peter Shalulile was in the Namibia national team which played against Equatorial Guinea on Monday. A big plus for head coach Cardoso is that Namibia hosted Equatorial Guinea in Polokwane, which means Shalulile will be back at Chloorkop and still have sufficient time to be part of the team that is preparing to face Sekhukhune.
