PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: South Africa's provisional squad for 2015 AFCON named
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – National football coach Ebrahim Mashaba on Thursday named a provisional 34-man squad for next month's Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
PANA reports that Mashaba kept the bulk of the team that played in the AFCON qualifiers where they went unbeaten in six matches.
He named four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 15 midfielders and five strikers. The squad will be trimmed down to 23 players on 30 December, after a training camp in Johannesburg.
“The bulk of the boys in the squad are the ones who helped Bafana Bafana to be where it is now and we didn't want to change much going into Afcon,” Mashaba said in a statement. “The bloated squad means we want to give everyone a chance as we don't have guaranteed places in the team. It is an opportunity for all of them to fight hard for the final spot."
South Africa's opening match in the tournament is against Algeria on 19 January, followed by a clash against Senegal. The team plays its last group stage match against Ghana on 27 January.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet, Jackson Mabokgwane, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapho, Patrick Phungwayo, Anele Ngcongca, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Kwandakwentsizwa Mngonyama, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Erick Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thabo Matlaba, Mzikayise Mashaba.
Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Andile Jali, Asavele Mbekile, Vuyisile Wana, Jabulani Shongwe, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Dean Furman, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Oupa Manyisa, Mondli Cele, Mandla Masango, Thulani Serero, Thuso Phala.
Strikers: Ayanda Patosi, Bernard Parker, David Zulu, Tokelo Rantie, Bongani Ndulula.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 18Dec2014
PANA reports that Mashaba kept the bulk of the team that played in the AFCON qualifiers where they went unbeaten in six matches.
He named four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 15 midfielders and five strikers. The squad will be trimmed down to 23 players on 30 December, after a training camp in Johannesburg.
“The bulk of the boys in the squad are the ones who helped Bafana Bafana to be where it is now and we didn't want to change much going into Afcon,” Mashaba said in a statement. “The bloated squad means we want to give everyone a chance as we don't have guaranteed places in the team. It is an opportunity for all of them to fight hard for the final spot."
South Africa's opening match in the tournament is against Algeria on 19 January, followed by a clash against Senegal. The team plays its last group stage match against Ghana on 27 January.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet, Jackson Mabokgwane, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapho, Patrick Phungwayo, Anele Ngcongca, Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Kwandakwentsizwa Mngonyama, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Erick Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thabo Matlaba, Mzikayise Mashaba.
Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Andile Jali, Asavele Mbekile, Vuyisile Wana, Jabulani Shongwe, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Dean Furman, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Oupa Manyisa, Mondli Cele, Mandla Masango, Thulani Serero, Thuso Phala.
Strikers: Ayanda Patosi, Bernard Parker, David Zulu, Tokelo Rantie, Bongani Ndulula.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 18Dec2014
