Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has named a 23-man squad that will play Gambia in the penultimate Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifiers.
The two nations will lock horns on Saturday, 4 June 2016 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Gambia. Kickoff is at 17h00 local time (19h00 SA Time).
Mashaba will travel with 18 players to Gambia.
The first match between South Africa and Gambia ended in a goalless draw in Durban (13 June 2015).
Bafana Bafana currently are third on the table with three points after four matches. Cameroon leads the pack on 8 points, one more than second-placed Mauritania while Gambia has two points.
“The truth of the matter is we are in a difficult situation, but we have to keep our hopes alive. We have said before that the first two matches (against Gambia and Mauritania) took us off track. Had we done well in those matches, we would be talking a different story today. But we must soldier on and get the remaining six points, then wait and see,” said Mashaba.
Bafana Bafana will start camp on Sunday, 29 May.
They depart for Gambia on Tuesday, 31 June 2016.
South Africa will host Mauritania in the last match of the qualifiers in September.
The winner of the group will progress to the 16-nation AFCON finals, along with two best-placed runners-up.
South Africa’s 2017 AFCON results:
South Africa 0 – 0 Gambia, 13 June 2015 (Durban)
Mauritania 3 – 1 South Africa, 5 September 2015 (Nouakchott)
Cameroon 2 -2 South Africa, 26 March 2016 (Limbe, Cameroon)
South Africa 0 – 0 Cameroon, 29 March 2016 (Durban)
Remaining 2017 AFCON fixtures:
Gambia vs South Africa Saturday, 4 June 2016
South Africa vs Mauritania, Saturday, 4 September 2016
The Bafana squad, Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Jackson Mabokgwane, Brighton Mhlongo
Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Diamond Thopola, Thabo Matlaba, Erick Mathoho, Sifiso Hlanti, Rivaldo Coetzee, Teboho Langerman
Midfielders: Andile Jali, Thulani Serero, Thapelo Morena, Mpho Makola, Mandla Masango, Hlompho Kekana, Keagan Dolly, Dean Furman, May Mahlangu
Strikers: Thamsanqa Gabuza, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Ndumiso Mabena, Thobani Mncwango
The game with Gambia has been set to take place at 19h00 (SA time). – African News Agency (ANA)