AFCON 2025: Orlando Pirates star reflects on Bafana Bafana snub and Pirates role

For Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi, the announcement of Hugo Broos’ final 25-man Bafana Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations came as no surprise.

While nine of his teammates will represent South Africa in Morocco later this month, Maswanganyi, once tipped as the heir to Themba Zwane’s creative mantle, will be watching from home.

Broos’ squad included the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng, Sipho Mbule, Tshepang Moremi and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, underlining Pirates’ influence on the national team. Yet Maswanganyi, affectionately known as “Tito,” has slipped down the pecking order at the Buccaneers. His season has been steady but unspectacular: 14 appearances across all competitions, with only four full 90-minute outings.

Speaking to Kickoff about the omission, Maswanganyi admitted he had braced himself for the disappointment.

“I already knew that I wasn’t going to make it to the AFCON squad because I wasn’t playing, I would get a few minutes to play. But I think when I was called up to the national team, I had problems with small injuries,” he explained.

Those setbacks, he believes, shaped his trajectory. “I think those kinds of things do affect your mind and your position in the national team, because we have a lot of players in the country who are working hard and are doing very well and deserve to be selected. For me, I didn’t even think about it, because I already knew that I wasn’t going to make it.”

For Maswanganyi, the focus now shifts back to club football. While his teammates prepare for continental duty, he is expected to feature in Pirates’ squad for the Carling Cup clash against the Carling All-Stars at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.