Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana will be looking to improve their record at the 2016 African Nations Championships (Chan), but first they will have to take on Mauritius in a qualifying match at Dobsonville Stadium, on Saturday.
Since the biennial tournament began in 2009, Bafana have participated twice and reached the quarterfinals in 2011. They did not manage to make it out of the group stages in 2014, when they hosted the tournament.
The event is unique in that only players who participate in the nations’ local football league can be eligible for selection.
Mashaba will be without several players as they will have to return to their overseas clubs. Mashaba is expected to call up replacements.
“We need to make additions because we are going to lose six or seven foreign-based players,” said Mashaba.
“We need to add up to make a squad of 18. For the Chan qualifier they need 18 players, but we need 22 players in the camp to make sure that if anything comes up, we are covered.
“All the current local-based players are staying in the squad for Saturday’s game.”
Despite leaving the field with an injury in last week’s goalless draw against Gambia in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Durban, midfielder Oupa Manysia has recovered and will be available for selection.
If Bafana win they will move to the next stage of qualifying, the first round, they will then face the winner between Swaziland and Angola with the first leg scheduled for weekend of October 16.
The second leg will take place the following weekend. - ANA