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Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy has agreed to end his almost two-year stand-off and play again for South Africa when they host Zambia in their African Nations Cup qualifier next week.
McCarthy has refused to play for the country since last year’s Nations Cup finals in Egypt after being fingered as the ring leader of an attempt by players to strike over better payment terms for the competition, an accusation he furiously denied.
South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who took over after McCarthy began his boycott, said on Wednesday he had spoken to the forward last week and that McCarthy had agreed a comeback for the match in Cape Town on Sept. 8.
South Africa must avoid defeat to secure a place at the finals in Ghana next January.
McCarthy’s return is timely, coming after the injury suffered by striker Sibusiso Zuma in their last match, a friendly defeat in Scotland last week.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany), Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Vuyo Mere, Benson Mhlongo (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Dillon Sheppard (Mamelodi Sundowns), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Benedict Vilakazi (Aalborg, Denmark), Papi Zothwane (Lamontville Golden Arrows),
Strikers: Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England, Siyabonga Nomvete (Aalborg, Denmark).