Kaizer Chiefs Academy graduate Siyabonga Ngezana recently suffered a muscle injury while on duty for FCSB.
It was a blow for both his club and Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos who expected the 26-year-old to be part of his arsenal for back-to-back 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo in the next couple of days.
One player who was considered is Orlando Pirates center-back Thabiso Sesane who has been in sublime form.
Why did Broos go for Sesane?
The Bucs product has been consistent since taking over from the injured Tapelo Xoki. The Belgian has now explained how the 24-year-old managed to get his ticket.
“For the moment, I think Pirates and Stellenbosch are the two teams who are playing the best football, that means the players who are playing in those teams are good players who are playing good football,” Broos stated after confirming his final squad.
“When we had to replace Ngezana, we were looking at the other players, Sesane and also a few others and we decided to take him because he played all the games for Pirates since the beginning of the season so he had the rhythm of the game.
“He’s a good defender, also good in rebuilding, it means that after the discussion with my friend Helman [Mkhalele], we decided to take him, and I think it was the best choice to replace Ngezana for the moment.”
South Africa started their road to Morocco with a 2-2 draw against Uganda Cranes at home before beating South Sudan 3-2. Six points against Congo might just be enough to see them qualify for the biennial competition.