Two wins from two games have given Pitso Mosimane a flying start as Bafana Bafana coach. His young, Europe-heavy squad is bad news for several familiar names.
Pitso Mosimane has wasted no time making his mark. Bafana Bafana won both of his opening games, beating Guinea and Eritrea in AFCON qualifiers that matter more than the opposition’s ranking might suggest.
The immediate goal is a place at next year’s tournament. Once that is secured, expectations will rise, and so will the pressure on players fighting for a spot.
Mosimane’s squad is notably young. Most players are around 23, only a handful are over 30, and six of the starting XI play their football in Europe. That youth movement could leave some established names on the outside looking in.
The five who may struggle to return
1. Grant Kekana: The Mamelodi Sundowns defender has missed two major tournaments and says he wants back in. But with Olwethu Makhanya, Ime Okon and Mbekezeli Mbokazi pushing through, the centre-back queue is crowded.
2. Percy Tau: The 32-year-old has been without a club for around six months. His experience and past service count in his favour, but a return would be far more realistic if he were playing regularly.
3. Mothobi Mvala: A quiet hero of the AFCON 2023 bronze run, the versatile defender has been hampered by injuries since. He has been out of the setup for a while, and younger options have since moved ahead of him.
4. Nyiko Mobbie: He was trusted by Hugo Broos early on, but was gradually phased out after 2023 as Khuliso Mudau took over at right-back. Kamogelo Sebelebele and Thabang Matuludi now add more competition.
5. Lebo Mothiba: Mosimane is still looking for a reliable focal point up front, and consistency in front of goal has been an issue for Mothiba at Sundowns. He needs a strong run of form to get back into contention.
The core of Mosimane’s side looks set for now. But is the coach overlooking anyone? Who deserves a call-up, and who should make way?
