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 squad) because about 75% of the squad is known,” said Broos recently.

“In my head, I have most of the players, but we will see what happens in a month’s time or so. I am going to announce the final 23 during the early stages of December.”

Broos added over the weekend, “I know that what was so easy two years ago will now be very difficult to do because we have more than 23 players who can go to AFCON and deserve to go to AFCON. I will make decisions, and some of them will be painful for the players and also for me personally because it’s not a nice thing to drop a player.”

The top 10:

Teboho Mokoena (midfielder)

He is now on 50 caps since his debut against Botswana eight years ago, and Broos has acknowledged Mokoena is indispensable. “It is not everyone who earns 50 caps, and now he will even have even more (in the future). Teboho Mokoena has become one of the most important South African national team players,” said Broos.

Ronwen Williams (goalkeeper)

The captain of the team has kept the number one jersey for years, culminating in him reaching 57 caps, making him the most experienced of the lot.

Oswin Appollis (winger)

To say he has done well for the national team would be an understatement. The lad from Bishop Lavis in Cape Town has been in great form since his debut in the World Cup qualifier against Rwanda two years ago. Appollis boasts five goals and seven assists in 19 appearances for Bafana Bafana.

Khuliso Mudau (defender)

Mudau’s importance to the team cannot be understated, and when he had contractual issues with Mamelodi Sundowns and was not training for a couple of months, Broos intervened. Since then, Mudau, with 27 national team caps, has returned to the Bafana Bafana fold. 

Lyle Foster (striker)

The Burnley forward has his critics, and some have gone as far as claiming he is in the squad because “he plays in the English Premier League”. However, Broos has continued to select Foster, who has eight goals in 24 appearances for Bafana Bafana.

Mohau Nkota (winger)

The Kimberley-born forward has had a great start in senior national team colours: seven appearances, two goals and three assists. 

Sphephelo Sithole (midfielder)

‘Yaya’ didn’t play for Bafana Bafana for a year while recovering from a bad injury (a fractured tibia and fibula), but was drafted back into the team as soon as he recovered, underlining his importance to the team. 

Sipho Mbule (midfielder)

In ‘Master Chef’, Broos has found a replacement for playmaker Themba Zwane. The Belgian has hinted that he would like to take both to the AFCON, but Zwane has had injury problems, and his place is not guaranteed at this stage.

Aubrey Modiba (defender)

The 30-year-old is not a guaranteed starter. He has got competition at left back from emerging players such as Samukelo Kabini, who started against Nigeria during the qualifiers, but Modiba, with 41 caps to his name, is one of the most experienced players in the team, only behind Williams and Mokoena in the current squad.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (defender)

Broos rates him highly. “If he makes the right move and he’s abroad, you will see what he will become. He will be a very good player; you can be sure of that,” said Broos. The 20-year-old is a future Bafana Bafana captain.