Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has announced a 38-man preliminary squad for next month’s crucial back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.

South Africa will host Benni McCarthy’s side at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, 13 November 2026, before travelling to Nairobi for the return leg four days later.

Mosimane’s team are sitting pretty at the top of Group D after a flying start last month, edging Guinea 2-1 in Johannesburg before thrashing Eritrea 5-0 in Egypt.

Pitso Mosimane names prelim Bafana squad

The preliminary selection features several notable inclusions and returns as the veteran mentor looks to maintain momentum. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and midfielder Thalante Mbatha are back in the mix after shaking off the injuries that sidelined them from the previous camp.

Meanwhile, European-based youngster Aden McCarthy earns a deserved call-up following his standout displays for Sabah FK in the UEFA Champions League. Boitumelo Radiopane and Luke Le Roux also return, alongside uncapped duo Nkosikhona Radebe and Nqaba Xulu.

Lebohang Maboe will be hoping to make the final squad this time around, after he was forced to withdraw from the team last month due to injury.

Take a look at the full squad below.

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane announces his preliminary squad for next month’s back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya.

#BafanaPride
@StandardBankZA @adidasZA @HonorAfrica @SABC_Sport @REXONA_SA @NUTRITECHFIT @socios @10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA @flysaa @SouthernSunGrp

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 23, 2026

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thakasani Mbanjwa (Golden Arrows).

Defenders

Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Samukele Kabini (Molde), Fawaaz Basadien (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkosikhona Radebe (AmaZulu), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Matludi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Olwethu Makhanya (Rangers), Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ime Okon (Hannover 96), Lebone Seema (Orlando Pirates), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA), Aden McCarthy (Sabah FK, Azerbaijan).

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Maboe (Kaizer Chiefs), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal), Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Brooklyn Poggenpoel (Durban City), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Luke Le Roux (Cercle Brugge).

Forwards

Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Cassius Mailula (Mamelodi Sundowns), Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Tashreeq Matthews (Mamelodi Sundowns), Relebohile Mofokeng (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thapelo Maseko (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Luther Singh (AEL Limassol), Devin Titus (Maghreb Fez, Morocco), Lyle Foster (Houston Dynamo, USA), Boitumelo Radiopane (Orlando Pirates), Nqaba Xulu (Richards Bay), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Puso Dithejane (Chicago Fire, USA).

Featured image: Instagram/@therealpitsomosimane

Originally published by Soccermag.