New blood for Bafana as AFCON squad sees major transformation ahead of Morocco

Two years is a long time in football. In 24 months, a player can move from celebrated national hero to virtually forgotten, their whereabouts unknown. Others rise from obscurity to become indispensable superstars.

This was never more evident than in the final Bafana Bafana squad announced by Coach Hugo Broos for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.

Bronze-medalists at the last edition in Ivory Coast, you might have expected Bafana’s squad to be largely the same for this tournament. With the same coach in charge, continuity seemed likely.

Yet 16 players who helped restore South Africa’s standing on the continent after that third-place finish will miss out on the December-to-January festival.

Some absences were unavoidable due to injury. Themba Zwane and Thapelo Morena, for example, were sidelined. Jayden Adams, once a likely pick, saw his chances diminish after limited game time at Mamelodi Sundowns following his move from Stellenbosch FC. Broos openly voiced his disapproval of Adams’ transfer, despite the player being a regular at the Brazilians.

Percy Tau’s absence is equally striking. Once considered South Africa’s next great scorer capable of challenging Benni McCarthy, Tau has slipped from the Bafana radar. Many will argue his pursuit of a ‘green bag’ career move, opting to go to Asia rather than return to Egypt’s Al Ahly, cost him a place in the national team. Had he returned, he could have completed a rare decade as a Bafana member, potentially making a third AFCON appearance alongside current assistant coach Helman Mkhalele.

Grant Kekana is another shock exclusion. The Sundowns centre-back had long been a defensive mainstay, but with players like Khlumani Ndamane stepping up, Kekana missed out on a return trip to AFCON.

Zakhele Lepasa’s absence is also notable. Once a prolific striker for Orlando Pirates and a national team regular, he has fallen out of favour and is no longer among the league’s leading scorers, now a bit-part player at Siwelele FC.

Goalkeeper Veli Mothwa, praised by Broos for his leadership and team spirit during the previous AFCON, has also faded from the elite level after errors against Uganda and Polokwane City.

He now plays in the Motsepe Foundation Championship for Tuks (University of Pretoria). His exit paved the way for Pirates’ Sipho Chaine, who has impressed enough to become the squad’s second-choice goalkeeper behind captain Ronwen Williams.

Other notable absentees include Siyabonga Mthethwa, Siyanda Zulu, and former Broos favourite Nyiko Mobbie, who will watch from the sidelines as their successors aim to bring home medals from Morocco in mid-January.

Such is the nature of football: national team places are never guaranteed. Players must maintain top performances at club level to retain their spots.

That is why newcomers like Thabang Matuludi, Samkelo Kabini, Bathusi Aubaas, Thalente Mbatha, Mohau Nkota, Relebohile Mofokeng, Sipho Mbule, and Tshepang Moremi have earned their maiden AFCON call-ups. Over the past 24 months, they have impressed Broos while previous stars have dipped in form.