Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained his decision to snub DStv Premiership Golden Boot Award winner Tshegofatso Mabasa from his squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mabasa’s omission has ignited a debate within South African football circles. The Orlando Pirates forward, who netted an impressive 16 league goals this season, was widely expected to earn a recall to the national team following his prolific form. However, Broos opted for Iqraam Rayners and Lyle Foster as his striking options.
When announcing his final squad at SABC today, Broos defended his decision, citing that Stellenbosch United’s Rayners had equally done well.
WHAT HUGO BROOS SAID ABOUT TSHEGOFATSO MABASA’S SNUB
“We had a bad experience with Mabasa two years ago. I had to change him after 35 minutes and everybody said it was a scandal,” Broos explained. “Mabasa didn’t reach the level he had to reach for the national team. He’s not the same player anymore, but you see what happened between January and the last game he played for Bafana two years ago. That was not good.”
He added they would continue following Mabasa’s progress when the 2024/25 DStv Premiership season starts.
“I don’t think, for me, that I have to take him now because I have also Iqraam. Iqraam scored also 15 goals, it’s one goal difference so I give the confidence to Iqraam right now.
“It was a decision – him or Mabasa. But Iqraam did very well in the game against Algeria and I gave him the confidence now.
“We will follow Mabasa next season; let’s hope he continues what he did – scoring goals in the last four months. Then we will have another striker.”
Bafana visit Nigeria’s Super Eagles in Uyo in what could be a grudge match. They last met in the AFCON 2023 semi-finals earlier this year in Ivory Coast. That match was decided after a penalty shootout, with a 1-1 draw. They meet in a Group C encounter on Friday, June 7.
On 11 June, Bafana will play host to Zimbabwe’s Warriors in Bloemfontein. South Africa is currently second in the group, having won one and lost one match so far—Rwanda, who beat Bafana at home, currently tops the group.
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