The Bafana Bafana camp has been dealt a significant pre-tournament blow as key defender Siyabonga Ngezana has sustained an injury, placing his participation in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in doubt.
Ngezana, who plays for Romanian club FCSB, was recently included in coach Hugo Broos’s 25-man preliminary squad.
The Injury Details
- Injury Type: Ngezana was forced off the field during a match over the weekend after experiencing knee pain.
- Confirmation: FCSB general manager Mihai Stoica confirmed the injury, stating, “His knee hurt and he couldn’t continue. He went to therapy this morning; let’s see if he can play on Thursday.”
- Club Impact: The former Kaizer Chiefs defender has been a crucial player for the Romanian giants this season, making his absence a major concern for both club and country.
Race Against Time for AFCON
The timing of the injury is highly concerning for the national team:
- Upcoming Match: FCSB is scheduled to play Dutch side Feyenoord in their final Europa League group match on Thursday. This game could be Ngezana’s last club appearance before the AFCON camp. His ability to recover in time for this match is currently unclear.
- National Team Assessment: Ngezana’s AFCON participation hinges on a medical assessment by the Bafana Bafana medical team upon his arrival at the camp.
- Recent Bafana History: While Ngezana started against Nigeria during the World Cup qualifiers, he was suspended for the subsequent match and has not featured for the national team since.
Should Ngezana be ruled out, it complicates the defensive line-up, which is already expected to feature Mbekezeli Mbokazi as a likely starter.
