Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has named his final 30-player squad for the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as an international friendly against Egypt.
Mosimane initially announced a 35-member preliminary squad before trimming it to 30 players. He said the final selection was based on several factors, including current form, experience, player availability and the impact of injuries.
Bafana will begin their AFCON qualifying campaign against Guinea at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Johannesburg before travelling to Cairo, Egypt, to face Eritrea at Al-Salam Stadium on Wednesday, 30 September.
The national team will then remain in Cairo for an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October.
We select based on form, we select on experience, and we select on availability and the impact of injuries,” Mosimane said.
Bafana will assemble on Sunday, 20 September, ahead of their opening qualifier against Guinea.
The 2027 AFCON tournament, known as Pamoja 2027, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
It will be the first time three countries jointly host the continental tournament and the first AFCON edition to be staged in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the competition in 1976.
SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan welcomed the announcement of the squad and said the association was looking forward to the tournament.
We were all looking forward to our first team to be announced by Coach Mosimane. It will be the first time that three countries will co-host AFCON, and also the first time that the continental tournament will be held in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the event in 1976.
We are looking forward to going to Pamoja 2027,” Jordaan said.
Tickets for Bafana’s opening AFCON qualifier against Guinea are already on sale, with adult tickets priced at R100 and tickets for children under 12 at R40.
Tickets are available through Ticketpro.