Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named his squad for the friendly international matches against Guinea and world champions France later this month.
Broos has retained many of the players who came close to qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but there are also some interesting new names.
Right-backs Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Bandile Shandu (Orlando Pirates) have been selected, as has young centre-back Athenkosi Mcaba (Stellenbosch FC), who has featured in just eight PSL games in his career.
Left-back Lyle Lakay, also from Sundowns, gets a welcome recall for what could be his first cap since Sao Tome e Principe in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November 2020.
Mothobi Mvala from Mamelodi Sundowns has earned a recall to add some steel to the centre of the park, while 32-year-old Thabang Monare is also in and could add to his two caps.
Monare’s Pirates teammate Goodman Mosele has been forgiven for going AWOL when he was last called up in October, but makes a welcome return after excellent form since the restart of the Premier Soccer League in the new year.
There is plenty of pace up front with the likes of Lyle Foster (Westerlo, Belgium), Bongikuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United, USA), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC) and Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids, Egypt), to go with the guile of Keagan Dolly (Kaizer Chiefs) and Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt).
Bafana will take on Guinea in Belgium on March 25, before a prestige clash with France in Lille on March 29.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs)
Defenders: Sydney Mobile (Sekhukhune United), Lyle Lakay, Rushine de Reuck, Khuliso Mudau (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Terrence Mashego (Cape Town City), Siyanda Xulu (unattached), Athenkosi Mcaba (Stellenbosch FC), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Bandile Shandu (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Mothobi Mvala, Teboho Mokoena (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Monare, Goodman Mosele (both Orlando Pirates), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy)
Strikers: Keagan Dolly (Kaizer Chiefs), Lyle Foster (Westerlo, Belgium), Bongikuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United, USA), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids, Egypt), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt)
