Bafana Bafana’s hopes for a strong showing at the 2023 AFCON have been dealt a blow with the confirmed absence of star striker Lyle Foster.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced his 23-man final squad on Thursday and shed light on the complex situation surrounding Foster’s withdrawal.
Broos emphasised that Foster’s exclusion was “impossible” to avoid due to medical reasons. He revealed that Burnley’s medical staff deemed Foster unfit for the tournament, citing lingering risks from mental health struggles experienced two months ago.
“This is a medical decision. It’s not my decision,” Broos, who is currently in Belgium, said on SABC 3. “I spoke with Kompany for half an hour, nearly an hour. He explained everything, and I could understand. The only thing is that he still needs 24 hours, seven days of help. And we can’t give him that during AFCON.”
HUGO BROOS ON LYLE FOSTER’S LETTER TO SAFA
The coach further confirmed Foster’s request to be excused from AFCON, documented in a letter sent to SAFA.
“It was impossible for Lyle to be selected for AFCON. I repeat, it was impossible. It was a medical decision. Lyle Foster wrote a letter to SAFA requesting he doesn’t want to be at AFCON. I’m not happy that he’s not there, but again, this is a medical decision.”
The Belgian mentor further revealed that Foster’s letter had been written before the preliminary squad was announced earlier this month.
“His letter was written before I selected the preliminary list. They told me he was agitated that he was on the preliminary list. Don’t think that I am telling you something that is not true. It’s surprising also for me, but Lyle Foster will not be with us.”
While acknowledging his disappointment at Foster’s absence, Broos expressed frustration at Burnley’s recent decision to play the striker during a league match. The 2017 AFCON winner with Cameroon also revealed his efforts to engage with Burnley FC coach Vincent Kompany over the Foster issue.
Kompany reiterated the medical professionals’ stance on the potential for relapse. He raised concerns about Foster’s overall well-being if he were to travel to Ivory Coast.
Foster’s withdrawal casts a shadow over South Africa’s AFCON aspirations. The talented 23-year-old striker is considered a key player, and his absence leaves a significant void in the team’s attack.
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