By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named his 54-player preliminary squad on Monday for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] tournament in Morocco.
Broos will have to cut the squad to 23 for the finals. The final list must be submitted by December 11, which is ten days before the tournament’s opening game, but the South African Football Association (SAFA) said the final squad would be named in the coming days.
There are 12 foreign-based players in the squad, with 13 from Orlando Pirates and 10 from champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 2025 edition of AFCON will be staged in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with Bafana Bafana drawn in a highly competitive Group B alongside Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Darren Johnson (AmaZulu), Renaldo Leaner (Sekhukhune United), Brandon Petersen (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Keegan Allan (AmaZulu), Fawaaz Basadien (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Samukelo Kabini (Molde, Norway), Malingonwe Khoza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch), Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Thapelo Morena, Khuliso Mudau (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Fezile Ngacaba (Durban City), Siyabonga Ngezana (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers, England)
Midfielders: Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luke le Roux (Portsmouth, England), Siphesihle Maduna (TS Galaxy), Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City), Thalenthe Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Siphesihle Mkhize (Sekhukhune United), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mthetheleli Mthinyane (Stellenbosch), Masindi Nemtajela (Orlando Pirates), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal)
Forwards: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge, Belgium), Ashley Cupido (Stellenbosch), Puso Dithejane (TS Galaxy), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United, USA), Keletso Makgalwa (Sekhukhune United), Evidence Makgopa, Patrick Maswanaganyi (both Orlando Pirates), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kamogelo.