PORT ELIZABETH – Bafana Bafana's star midfielder, Bongani Zungu has withdrawn from the squad that will face Mali on Sunday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
Zungu who is plying his trade in France suffered a deep laceration on his left leg while in the colours of his club, Amiens SC.
The mercurial Zungu was Bafana's top performer at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt this year. He was imperial for Bafana in the middle of the park and notched up two strikes during the tournament. His withdrawal will be a big blow for the country.
Highlands Park midfielder dynamo, Mothobi Mvala has been called up to replace Zungu.
Mvala is already in the camp. He arrived in PE last night and will start training with the team today.
Safely arrived in Port Elizabeth to continue preparations for the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge clash against Mali on Sunday 13 October at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 3pm. Tickets are R40 for adults & R20 for children under 12 @SAFA_net @Banyana_Banyana @BafanaBafana pic.twitter.com/LEwZDHZ3AS
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 8, 2019
Bafana will conduct a training session at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in PE this morning. The squad touched down in Eastern Cape from Johannesburg yesterday afternoon.
Thamsanqa Mkhize and Brandon Petersen were first to pull out of the squad because of injuries. The duo was replaced by Tshepo Rikhotsho and Ricardo Goos.
Eric Mathoho and Dean Furman also arrived in the camp with niggles. The diminutive Kaizer Chiefs defender is carrying an ankle injury while Furman has a knee problem. The pair is both still in the camp and will be monitored.