Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Ayanda Patosi has named three players whom he believes would have added value to the SA men’s national team’s final squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament.
This follows Hugo Broos announcing his final 25-man squad on Monday, December 1, from his original 54-member preliminary squad.
The CAF 2025 AFCON competition will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. Bafana are placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola, and neighbours Zimbabwe.
Broos’ troops are set to face Angola in their first group-stage game on December 22 at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
On December 16, they will lock horns with Egypt at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir. Their last group encounter will be against neighbours Zimbabwe at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on December 29.
THE THREE PLAYERS PATOSI FEELS WOULD’VE BEEN INCLUDED IN BAFANA AFCON SQUAD
Although Patosi is pleased with the Bafana squad selection and believes they will perform well at the AFCON tournament. However, he highlighted three players he thinks should have been included. The trio includes Mihlali Mayambela, Gift Links, and Thembinkosi Lorch.
The 33-year-old went on to state that Bafana will perform better than they did last time, when they secured a bronze medal in the 2024 AFCON tournament held in the Ivory Coast.
“The boys are really doing well, and let’s give all the praise to the coach who came and did not listen to anyone but did what he thought was best for Bafana, and it worked,” said Patosi in an exclusive interview with FARPost.
“I know the coach is from Belgium, very strict, and really likes to work with young players. If you see now, even with the squad that is selected for AFCON, no one is safe.
“However, we have players who we can put in there and do the job anytime, like Mihlali Mayambela, Gift Links, and Thembinkosi Lorch. But I just want to wish the boys all the best, and we are behind them. I really believe we will do great and better than last AFCON.”
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