Hugo Broos announces Bafana’s prelim squad
Broos has included most of the players that took part in the 2023 Afcon but has also included a few uncapped players.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 32-member preliminary squad on Thursday evening.
The squad has been selected for the FIFA Series international friendlies pilot project in Algeria later this month.
The FIFA event will run from 18 to 26 March 2024 and it will be the first time that Broos reunites with his Bafana team since beating DR Congo 6-5 on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off to win bronze.
Broos has included most of the players that took part in the 2023 Afcon but has also included a few uncapped players.
On-form Cape Town City striker Khanyisa Mayo was again omitted from the Bafana squad with Broos opting for Iqraam Rayners from Stellenbosch.
Mayo has scored nine goals in the DStv Premiership so far and is just one goal shy of Lucas Ribeiro’s 10.
The 25-year-old was the surprise exclusion in Broos’ Bafana’s Afcon squad in January.
Another top striker who was not included in the 32-man squad is SuperSport United veteran Bradley Grobler. The ex-Bafana striker has seven goals to his name and would love another crack at the national team despite turning 35 this year.
BAFANA COACH HIGO BROOS OVERLOOKS MAYO AS HE NAMES HIS SQUAD
Broos’ charges play the first match against Andorra in Annaba, Algeria on 21 March 2024.
Five days later, Bafana plays the hosts at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday
Broos will announce his final Bafana squad for the event in the coming days.
Bafana Bafana are currently ranked 58th in the FIFA rankings and will look to win their two friendly games to continue to climb.
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