Publications
Partners
Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba faces a selection headache ahead of crucial back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Cameroon at the end of this month.
The first game is at the new Stade Omnisport de Limbe on March 26, with the return match at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium three days later.
Mashaba was expected to announce his team on Thursday.
Who will man the Bafana goals and who will score goals against the Indomitable Lions, who top Group M after winning their two opening fixtures against Mauritania and Gambia?
The injury list of regular players will not make for happy reading for Mashaba and his technical team.
England-based striker Tokelo Rantie has not played for Bournemouth since January.
Midfielder Bongani Zungu is nursing a shin injury, which he picked up in January, and number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has been out of action since then too.
His understudy, Jackson Mabokgwane, has been relegated to the bench at Mpumalanga Black Aces.
His coach, Muhsin Ertugral, prefers Shu-Aib Walters.
Mashaba might be forced to go with the inactive Mabokgwane, who has been playing second fiddle to Khune.
He last saw action for Aces at the end of October. He was in goal when Bafana defeated Angola in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, but Ertugral has not used him a lot.
Mashaba might also opt for the inexperienced duo of Reyaad Pieterse and Brighton Mhlongo.
They have been in good form for Chiefs and Pirates, respectively, but they lack international experience.
There is also SuperSport United goal minder Ronwen Williams.
Other players the coach was expected to call up or consider are the Mamelodi Sundowns pair of Hlompho Kekana and Keagan Dolly.
There might be a problem with them though, too. Dolly, the national Under-23 captain, and his team will be playing a friendly in Brazil that same week.
The verdict is still out on whether Ajax Cape Town striker Prince Nxumalo has convinced Mashaba that he can solve Bafana’s scoring problem.
The 25-year-old striker has been in good form for the Urban Warriors. He is the second-leading scorer, with 11 league strikes.
He was once called up to Bafana, but missed the trip to Costa Rica and Honduras last year when he fell ill.
. Meanwhile, three South African clubs are bracing themselves for tough Confederation of African Football (CAF) assignments.
Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits are set to enter the crucial stages of their African safaris.
After making their way to the second round of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup, their resolve will be tested by clubs from Ivory Coast, Congo-Brazzaville and Tanzania over the weekend.
Amakhosi, who didn’t raise a sweat against Volcan Club of the Comoros Islands in their last Champions League encounter, face a sterner test in the form of former champions Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast.
Sundowns, who finally overcame Zimbabwe’s Chicken Inn, have a difficult task against AC Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are unbeaten in 11 games in their Ligue 1.
The Students made light of Lightstars of Seychelles, with a 9-0 aggregate win, to set up a date with Azam FC from Tanzania in the Confed Cup’s second round.
Wits have suffered a blow, with injuries to key players Sibusiso Vilakazi and Phakamani Mahlambi.
The good thing for the three South African teams is that they will play at home first before travelling, which is always an advantage.
