Al Ahly star forward Percy Tau makes his return to the South Africa national team after a short-term absence and Orlando Pirates playmaker Thembinkosi Lorch is back from a longer hiatus following the release of Bafana Bafana manager Hugo Broos’ final squad for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Tau had missed out on Bafana’s two friendly matches against Guinea and France during the previous international break but Lorch is in the squad for the first time since South Africa’s opening qualifying matches for 2021 AFCON qualifying back at the end of 2019.
Forwards Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids FC), Lyle Foster (Westerlo) and Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United) are among the members of the squad playing their club football abroad as well as defender Thibang Phete and midfielder Spephele Sithole, who both play for Belenenses in Portugal. The remainder of the team is dominated by players from current top-2 DStv Premiership sides Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City as well as Kaizer Chiefs and CAF Confederation Cup finalists Orlando Pirates.
South Africa opens up their 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign at Morocco in Rabat on June 9, their only match during the international break since their second matchup against Zimbabwe was cancelled due to their disqualification. Liberia completes the lineup of three teams in Group K with the top-2 advancing to the competition in Ivory Coast.
