Pitso Mosimane Names Final 30-Man Bafana Bafana Squad for Guinea, Eritrea and Egypt Fixtures
Pitso Mosimane has picked his first squad since taking the Bafana Bafana job again, and it’s 30 players deep. They’ve got a heavy stretch ahead: two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and a friendly away in Egypt, all inside about ten days.
Guinea come to Soweto first, on 26 September. Then it’s Eritrea away on the 30th, and finally Egypt in Cairo on 4 October. Mosimane didn’t get there in one go — he named 35 players earlier in the month before cutting the list down to the 30 he wanted for these games.
The squad
Plenty of familiar names, a few comebacks, and a lot of players based overseas.
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss.
Defenders: Aubrey Modiba, Samukele Kabini, Fawaaz Basadien, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Thapelo Morena, Thabang Matuludi, Olwethu Makhanya, Khulumani Ndamane, Ime Okon, Lebone Seema, Nkosinathi Sibisi.
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Lebohang Maboe, Sphephelo Sithole, Bathusi Aubaas, Brooklyn Poggenpoel.
Forwards: Iqraam Rayners, Yanela Mbuthuma, Cassius Mailula, Oswin Appollis, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews, Relebohile Mofokeng, Themba Zwane, Thapelo Maseko, Luther Singh, Shandre Campbell.
How many of these are playing abroad? A lot. At the back, Kabini’s at Molde in Norway, Makhanya at Rangers, Okon at Hannover 96. Further forward it’s wider still — Dithejane at Chicago Fire, Mofokeng at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Maseko at Copenhagen, Singh at AEL Limassol, Campbell at Kortrijk. And Themba Zwane, the old head, is still there too.
The one that stands out is Lebohang Maboe. The Chiefs midfielder is back in the fold after making the preliminary list, and he’s held on through the final cut. Poggenpoel, another from that early group, stayed in as well. Mailula and Campbell are among the others coming back.
The games, and why they count
Guinea are up first, Saturday 26 September, at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto — SAFA nailed down the venue earlier this month. That’s the opener in Bafana’s Group D qualifying campaign. Eritrea follow on the 30th, a fixture set for Egypt but still part of the same group.
The window wraps up with the Egypt friendly on 4 October at Cairo International Stadium. That one’s not a qualifier — just a chance for Mosimane to get more time on the training ground with the group between the serious matches.
| Date | Fixture | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2026 | South Africa vs Guinea | AFCON 2027 qualifier |
| 30 September 2026 | Eritrea vs South Africa | AFCON 2027 qualifier |
| 4 October 2026 | Egypt vs South Africa | International friendly |
Here’s the catch in the group. South Africa are with Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya — but Kenya are co-hosting the tournament, so they’re already through and out of the qualifying fight. That leaves the other three going for the group’s one remaining spot, which is exactly why a home game against Guinea matters as much as it does.
A returning coach
This is the start of another Mosimane era. CAF confirmed his reappointment this month after Hugo Broos left following the 2026 World Cup. He’s done the job before, so it’s a return rather than a fresh start, and he’s inherited the side right at the top of a qualifying run.
The shape of the squad tells you his thinking well enough — keep the settled core, make space for a few who forced their way in during the preliminary stage. Whether it works is something Guinea and Eritrea will start to show.
Editorial policy: This report is based on the final squad announcement and information from recognised football authorities and established South African sports sources. Selections, fixtures and competition details are reported as fact, not as predictions of results.
Sources and verification: Cross-checked against SABC Sport, SAFA-related reporting, CAF and established South African football publications. CAF has separately confirmed Mosimane’s appointment and the Group D situation.
Corrections policy: Accuracy matters to us. If a factual error is flagged, we check it against the relevant authoritative source and fix confirmed mistakes as soon as we reasonably can, noting significant corrections where needed.
Disclaimer: Squad selections, fixtures, venues and arrangements can change through injury, administrative calls or other developments. Check the latest from SAFA, CAF and the competition organisers before relying on fixture details.
Last updated: 17 September 2026
