By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane have called up Orlando Pirates wing-back Tshepang Moremi to replace injured Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe in the squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
South Africa will play Guinea on Saturday at Orlando Stadium, before taking on Eritrea in Egypt four days later. Bafana will also play Egypt in a friendly international in Cairo on October 4.
Maboe was forced to withdraw from the national team camp after twisting his ankle during a Betway Premiership match against Golden Arrows.
Scans confirmed the injury would rule him out of the entire FIFA international window and upcoming qualifiers.
“He twisted his ankle while playing for Chiefs and after undergoing a scan, he will be ruled out from the current camp and this Fifa window,” Bafana Bafana team doctor Tshepo Molobi said.
Mosimane confirmed that a call-up letter for Moremi has been sent to Pirates. He was a regular member of Hugo Broos’ South Africa squad in the Belgian’s last six months or so in charge.
The qualifier marks the beginning of a journey to potentially proving next year in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania that Bafana Bafana are back among Africa’s elite to stay.
This mission carries immense personal significance for Mosimane. Failure to qualify for AFCON 2012 ultimately led to the downfall of his first stint in charge of Bafana Bafana. A decade and a half later, he can settle a score – starting on Saturday.
Meanwhile Amajita got their third win in a row after they defeated Eswatini 2-0 in the last group stages match in the CAF U20 Men’s Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifiers in Mozambique.