Despite being in the form of his life, attacking midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch has been omitted from Bafana Bafana’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON]. African Times can reveal the 32-year-old has failed to make the cut for the tournament starting next month in Morocco, where he is playing club football for Wydad Casablanca. Bafana Bafana’s preliminary squad will be announced on Monday afternoon. Lorch was again one of the players to watch on the weekend when…

African Times has picked 10 players that have done enough to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to include them in his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Bafana Bafana’s opening match of the tournament will be against Angola on 22 December in Marrakech, followed by a clash against Egypt on 26 December in Agadir, before they conclude their group stage assignment when they challenge neighbours Zimbabwe, also in Marrakech. “It’s not difficult (to select the 23-man…

Midfield maestro Teboho Mokoena has come a long way in his eight years with South Africa’s senior national team, Bafana Bafana. Few would have noticed when he ran out for his debut against neighbours Botswana in the African Nations Championship [CHAN] qualifier played at the Francistown Stadium on 15 July 2017. Born in Bohlokong, Bethlehem, in the Free State, Mokoena’s first run in national team colours came under then Bafana Bafana mentor Stuart Baxter, with Mokoena and company winning 2-0 away.…

At 32 years old, Thembinkosi Lorch’s hopes of a return to the Bafana Bafana fold have been dashed. The Wydad Casablanca forward has been performing admirably, leading to calls for his return to the national team setup. He has nine Bafana Bafana caps, with his last appearance coming about two years ago. This season, he has three goals and three assists in seven matches in the CAF Confederation Cup and Botola Pro League. However, this has done nothing to convince…

One of the Premier Soccer League’s consistent performers, Keletso Makgalwa, has made the final squad for Bafana Bafana’s friendly against Zambia next Saturday. The 28-year-old has been knocking on the senior national team door since last season, with some fine performances in the colours of Sekhukhune United, and has now earned his first call-up. The winger was a nominee for the PSL Footballer of the Season 2024/25 season, contributing six goals and 11 assists in 32 matches for Babina Noko.…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed the venue for Bafana Bafana’s international friendly against Zambia next week. Bafana Bafana will face Chipolopolo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, 15 November. Both countries will use the match as preparation for this year’s Africa Cup on Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, starting in December. SAFA will confirm the ticketing details in the coming days. Kick-off in Gqeberha will be at 18h00. The final Bafana Bafana squad for the international…

South Africa’s national teams have been handsomely rewarded by the sports ministry for their respective successes in recent times. The senior football team Bafana Bafana will receive R5 million to share amongst the players and technical team. This comes after Hugo Broos’s men qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, ahead of Nigeria and Benin in Group C of the qualifiers. “This investment is a testament to their hard work and the pride they instill in our nation,” said sports…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named the squad to face Zambia in a friendly international next month. Broos has picked 36 players in the preliminary squad, which will be trimmed to 23 players in the coming days. Bafana Bafana will host Chipolopolo at a venue yet to be confirmed on 14 November, during the FIFA international break. Both teams will use the friendly as part of their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off in…

On Tuesday this week, South Africa breathed a collective sigh of relief when Bafana Bafana crossed the line first in Group C and qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, ahead of Nigeria and Benin. “I don’t think we, as players, realise what we’ve done here. This is history, and I’m so proud to be leading this team,” reflects the skipper Williams, who’s now on 56 caps for the senior national team. Bafana Bafana achieved a 3-0 win over Rwanda…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) employee(s) who almost cost Bafana Bafana their FIFA 2026 World Cup spot will face no punishment, according to president Danny Jordaan. You would be forgiven for thinking heads would roll for the grave error, but no, it is business as usual at SAFA House. Bafana Bafana were almost home and dry when FIFA acted and sanctioned Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player in midfielder Teboho Mokoena, in the 2-0 win over Lesotho played…