CONFIRMED: Bafana striker out of AFCON after devastating injury
A Bafana Bafana striker has been ruled out of the upcoming AFCON after suffering an injury setback. The striker, who was expected to form part of the Bafana squad, will now face “several months” of recovery on the sidelines.
This is a major blow to South Africa’s preparations for the AFCON. The striker, Lebo Mothiba, is a vital part of the team’s attacking plans. His absence will leave a significant hole in the squad, and coach Hugo Broos will have to identify a replacement.
According to Broos, the Strasbourg forward is a different profile of a forward.
“I think I said it when he was in the selection, Lebo [Mothiba] is the type of player that we don’t have, the type of striker we don’t have,” said Broos recently.
“He’s strong, and he’s powerful. We don’t have a striker that can keep a ball, we don’t have a striker that has the power of it.
“Then I was still surprised to see that also on training. Not surprised that I see it, but I saw him playing In Strasbourg. Now you see him live, it’s different.”
The injury also comes as a personal blow to the Diambars Football Academy prodigy. AFCON is a major tournament for African players, and it was a dream for him to represent his country on such a big stage. He will now have to watch from the sidelines as his teammates compete for the continental title.
DETAILS OF LEBO MOTHIBA’S INJURY
Mothiba fractured his patella in Sunday’s Ligue 1 win against Lorient. The South African international underwent successful surgery on Monday morning but faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“Lebo Mothiba suffered a fractured patella in Sunday’s win against Lorient. After successfully undergoing surgery this morning, our striker will be unavailable for a period of several months,” the French club confirmed.
The news is a major setback for both Mothiba and his club. The 28-year-old has scored three goals in 15 appearances in all competitions. His injury comes just a week before Broos names his AFCON squad. The continental tournament kicks off in Ivory Coast next month.
In addition to missing the Africa Cup of Nations, Mothiba is also likely to miss the rest of the Ligue 1 season.
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