South Africa releases AFCON 2019 squad list

South Africa coach Stuart Baxter named a surprise-free 23-man squad Sunday for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
South Africa head coach Stuart Baxter speaks to the players during the South Africa Squad training session at Steyn City School.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 05: South Africa head coach Stuart Baxter speaks to the players during the South African national men’s soccer team training session at Steyn City School on June 05, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

South Africa coach Stuart Baxter named a surprise-free 23-man squad Sunday for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt from June 21 to July 19. France-based Bongani Zungu and Lebo Mothiba are the only selections who play for clubs in the top five European leagues.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, first and third in the 2018/2019 national championship, dominate the squad with five and four players respectively. Hopes of including defenders Joel Untersee of FC Zurich and Nikola Tavares of Crystal Palace were dashed when they could not obtain South African passports in time.

Both were born in South Africa and Untersee has represented Switzerland and Tavares Croatia in age-limit internationals because their parents hail from those countries. They remain eligible to be chosen for Bafana Bafana as neither has played for his adopted country at the senior competitive level.

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South Africa are in Group D with fellow former champions the Ivory Coast and Morocco and Namibia, and it is considered the toughest of the six mini-leagues. Bafana boasts unbeaten Cup of Nations tournament records against their three rivals – winning twice and drawing twice against Morocco, drawing with the Ivory Coast and defeating Namibia.

The South Africa Squad players celebrates a victory
South Africa players celebrates a victory during the 2019 Cosafa Cup Plate final match between South Africa and Malawi at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on 07 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

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Official South Africa Squad List

Goalkeepers: Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Rowen Williams (SuperSport Utd)

Defenders: Sifiso Hlanti, Thulani Hlatshwayo (capt), Buhle Mkhwanazi (all Wits), Daniel Cardoso, Ramahlwe Mphahlele (both Chiefs), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City)

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Midfielders: Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Themba Zwane (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (SuperSport), Thembinkosi Lorch (Pirates), Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford/ENG), Thulani Serero (Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Bongani Zungu (Amiens/FRA)

Forwards: Lebogang Maboe, Sibusiso Vilakazi (both Sundowns), Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg/FRA), Percy Tau (Royal Union St Gilloise/BEL), Lars Veldwijk (Sparta Rotterdam/NED)


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