SA Under 23 head coach David Notoane announced the 23-man squad set to face Congo Brazzaville in a two-legged CAF U23 Olympic qualifiers this month.
Notoane had initially named the 29-member preliminary squad. On Thursday, he trimmed it to 23.
South Africa’s U23 men’s national team will take on Congo in two pivotal back-to-back encounters, starting at home.
The U23s will lock horns with the Congolese side at Dobsonville Stadium in the first leg on Thursday, 23 March 2023.
The first leg game will start at 15h00. The boys will then jet off to Congo for the second leg on the weekend of 26/27 March at Massamba-Debat Stadium.
TWO KAIZER CHIEFS DUO INCLUDED SA U23 SQUAD
Two Kaizer Chiefs players were included by Notoane in the SA U23s. The two are midfielder Samkelo Zwane and forward Mduduzi Tshabalala.
And, only two overseas players were got into the final squad. The players Kgaugelo Chauke of Exeter City in England and Christos Retsos from Aris Petroupolis FC in Greece.
Sadly, Siya Ligendza of AFC Fylde of England has been left out of the squad due to a hamstring injury.
“It’s a very, very exciting squad, and a very competitive squad,” Notoane told SAFA media department.
“This squad is a culmination of the work done from January to March. In monitoring a lot of these players at their respective clubs. This was based on the performances they’ve been dishing out week in and week out.
“There are those that were getting minutes in between and it has been very exciting to watch them. So congratulations to all the players that have made the final squad. We look forward to the game against Congo. We believe we’ve selected a squad that will meet the demands Congo. This will be in terms of their approach to the game, and their physicality.”
SA U23 FULL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Lincoln Vyver – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Ephraim Mothibhedi – All Stars [SA], Olwethu Mzimela – Amazulu [SA]
DEFENDERS
Athenkosi Mcaba – Stellenbosch [SA], Bradley Cross – Maritzburg United [SA], Wayne Dortley – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Siyanda Msani – Richards Bay [SA], Keagan Johannes – SuperSport United [SA], Olwethu Makhanya – Stellenbosch [SA], Kamogelo Mahlangu – TS Galaxy [SA]
MIDFIELDERS
Jayden Adams Stellenbosch [SA], Samkelo Zwane Kaizer Chiefs [SA], Christos Retsos – Aris Petroupolis [Greece], Ethan Brooks – Amazulu [SA], Devin Titus – Stellenbosch [SA], Kgaugelo Chauke – Exeter City [England]
FORWARDS
Ashley Cupido – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Boitumelo Radiopane – Cape Town Spurs [SA], Antonio van Wyk – Stellenbosch [SA], Oswin Appolis Pretoria Callies [SA], Mduduzi Shabalala – Kaizer Chiefs [SA], Thapelo Maseko – SuperSport United [SA], Siya Ligendza – AFC Fylde [England], Yanela Mbuthuma – Richards Bay [SA].
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