Sundowns carried Bafana Bafana in 2023, it’s now Pirates’ chance
Sundowns and Pirates are the two top teams in South African football right now, and Bafana Bafana rely on them for players.
Bafana Bafana have their 25-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals ready after Monday’s squad announcement by Hugo Broos.
And this latest squad that’s going to Morocco is dominated by Orlando Pirates with a whopping NINE players.
Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Sipho Mbule and Thalente Mbatha are included.
The five Pirates stars are joined by fellow teammates Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa and Tshepang Moremi.
Of course, there could have been more with Patrick Maswanganyi and Kamogelo Sebelebele not making the cut – check our inclusions and omissions here.
And this is not really shocking as Pirates have been in scintillating form so far this season.
SUNDOWNS HAND OVER BAFANA BAFANA BATON TO PIRATES
In 2023, at the Afcon finals in Cote d’Ivoire, Mamelodi Sundowns had 10 players and carried Bafana Bafana.
That number has reduced by half this time around with only five players in Broos’ squad.
This means Pirates players are now the ones expected to take the baton from Sundowns and carry Bafana Bafana.
After all, the aim is to do better than the last edition where Bafana Bafana returned home with bronze.
Sundowns though, with five experienced players in the squad, still have a big shout at who’s to take Bafana Bafana to the promised land.
WHICH BUCS STARS TO LOOK OUT FOR?
All eyes will be on both Mbokazi and Mofokeng, and it’s important for them to have a good tournament for their futures.
One cannot talk about these rising stars without including a much-more matured Appollis who has been top form for both club and country.
Now, should these three players come to the party, Bafana Bafana can go all the way at this year’s Afcon.