Percy Tau back for Bafana Bafana’s AFCON qualifiers
BAFANA Bafana have been handed a huge boost as Al Ahly forward Percy Tau has made his way back into the squad as head coach Hugo Broos announced his final 23-man squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
Broos also unsurprisingly rewarded Mamelodi Sundowns 21-year-old forward Cassius Mailula with his first senior call-up following his outstanding performance at club level.
South Africa will face Liberia at home on March 24, before meeting them in Monrovia four days later.
If Bafana were to claim just four points from their two meetings with Liberia they would all but ensure AFCON qualification after both teams lost to Morocco.
Zimbabwe’s disqualification from Group K and banning from international football means that Morocco are almost guaranteed to qualify for the showpiece in Ivory Coast, leaving Liberia and South Africa to battle it out for the second spot.
Broos has trimmed down his initial 36-man preliminary squad with a couple of surprise omissions with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs in-form goalkeeper Brandon Peterson and Egypt based Fagrie Lakay missing out.
Full Bafana Bafana 23-man squad to face Liberia:
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Veli Mothwa (Amazulu), Ricardo Goss (Supersport United)
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Mothobi
Mvala (all Sundowns), Innocent Maela, Nkosinathi Sibisi (both Orlando Pirates), Siyanda Xulu (Turan Tovus, Azerbaijan) Midfielders: Luke Le Roux (Varbergs BOIS, Sweden), Njabulo Blom (St
Louis City, USA), Sphephelo Sithole (Belenenses, Portugal), Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns)
Forwards: Monnapule Saleng (Pirates), Themba Zwane, Cassius Mailula (both Sundowns), Zakhele Lepasa (Supersport), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota, USA), Percy
Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt)