Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos expects Luke Le Roux and Siyabonga Ngezana in camp on Tuesday as he nears a full house for their preparations ahead of this week’s matches against Uganda and South Sudan.
South Africa play Uganda away in Kampala on Friday November 15 before a home clash with South Sudan in Cape Town four days later and need two points from the two matches to seal qualification.
Cyprus-based Mihlali Mayambela has been replaced by Stellenbosch’s Devin Titus after suffering an injury at the weekend and Broos feels those in camp are ready for the task ahead.
Broos confident of smooth AFCON 2025 qualification
“Ngezana and Le Roux are coming tomorrow [Tuesday] because they played yesterday afternoon and we had to make a change in the selection because Mayambela is out with injury and he's replaced by Devin Titus from Stellenbosch,” Broos said on Monday.
“We are aware of the importance of the two games that are in front of us, two games of qualification. After those two games, it's finished. So, being the bronze medal of the last AFCON and looking at our opponents in the group, I have respect for them but they are not the biggest teams in Africa. I think it would be a little shame if we couldn't qualify.”
With South Africa in with a chance of making it back-to-back tournaments, Broos also feels the chance to make a little bit of history will act as an extra source of motivation for his players.
Which piece of history can South Africa achieve?
“We need three or two points to have security. We can also write a little bit of history by qualifying two times in a row. I think it's, I don't know, a long time ago but it should be a nice achievement,” he added.
“Then we can end a fantastic 2024 in a good way. We started it very well with a bronze medal so I think it's nice to end that season with a qualification for AFCON again.”
South Africa were at the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast when they finished third, their best result since 2003.
