Baxter Names Bafana Bafana Squad for Nigeria Clash

Newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach, Stuart Baxter, has named his 25-man squad for South Africa’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Bafana Bafana face the Super Eagles on June 10th at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Nigeria.

The match between the two African giants will be the opening match of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. Both South Africa and Nigeria failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

Baxter, who coached Bafana Bafana between 2004 and 2005, said that he is happy with the mix of players.

“I am quite pleased with the squad we have assembled. We have a small element of development with a couple of young players. We also have some players who are returning to the squad, the likes of Zungu and Rantie,” Baxter said.

Bafana Bafana have faced the Super Eagles on 12 different occasions, having only won once. Coincidentally, South Africa’s only win over Nigeria was in 2004, when Baxter was the head coach.

Check out Baxter’s squad below:

Goalkeepers
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (Wits), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United).

Defenders
Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Wits), Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Lorenzo Gordinho (Kaizer Chiefs), Abbubaker Mobara (Orlando Pirates), Tebogo Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sifiso Hlanti (Wits).

Midfielders
Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier, France), Andile Jali (K.V. Oostende, Belgium), Kamohelo Mokotjo (FC Twente, Netherlands), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Zungu (Vitória S.C, Portugal), Aubrey Ngoma (Cape Town City).

Forwards
Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebogang Manyama (Cape Town City), Kermit Erasmus (LENS, France), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tokelo Rantie (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates).