Mosimane’s Bold 35-Man Squad for Bafana Bafana
Pitso Mosimane has wasted no time stamping his authority on Bafana Bafana.
Days after his appointment as South Africa’s head coach, he has named a bold 35-man preliminary squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as reported by TimesLIVE. It is the first real glimpse of what his Bafana era might look like.
Pamoja opener at home
South Africa will launch their Pamoja tournament campaign with a home clash against Guinea on 26 September. The tournament is jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, but Bafana start on familiar turf before heading into more awkward territory.
The second match, against Eritrea, will be away on paper but played on neutral ground. Eritrea will host their “home” fixture in Egypt due to the lack of a suitable stadium in their own country, a logistical twist that could work in South Africa’s favour.
Injury blows to Broos’ core
Mosimane’s first list comes with some unavoidable absences.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Khuliso Mudau, Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa are all missing through injury. All four formed part of the core group under former coach Hugo Broos during the 2026 World Cup campaign, and their absence rips out a chunk of continuity just as qualifying begins again.
Mosimane will have to rewire key areas without them. There is no safety net from the old guard here; he must adapt quickly.
New names, fresh energy
The door has swung open for a new wave of talent.
- Lebone Seema
- Tshepo Mashilane
- Jemran Dansin
- Yanela Mutuma
- Cassius Mailula
- Puso Dithejane
- Tashreeq Matthews
- Ronaldo van Niel
- Luther Singh
- Shandre Campbell
headline the notable inclusions. Some are familiar to local followers, others less so, but together they signal a coach willing to broaden the pool.
Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Lebohang Maboe, both left out of the final World Cup squad, have also been handed another chance in this preliminary group. For players on the fringes, this is a clear message: the slate is not completely wiped clean, but reputations alone will not guarantee a place.
Core of experience kept intact
Mosimane has not torn everything up.
He has retained a spine of established internationals: Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Tapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Relebohile Mofokeng and Themba Zwane all keep their spots.
Those names bring tournament experience, calm under pressure and an understanding of what it takes to navigate qualifying campaigns. Around them, Mosimane can experiment. With them, he can still demand results from day one.
A new coach, a reshaped squad, and a qualifying campaign that starts at home before shifting to neutral ground in Egypt — Bafana Bafana are stepping into a new cycle. The question now is simple: how quickly can Mosimane turn this 35-man statement into a winning team?
