Pitso Mosimane Names 38-Man Bafana Bafana Preliminary Squad for Crucial AFCON Qualifiers Against Kenya

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has unveiled a 38-player provisional squad ahead of South Africa’s highly anticipated 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Kenya in November.

According to iDiski Times, Mosimane has included a mixture of experienced internationals, returning players and promising newcomers as he prepares his team for two crucial encounters against the Harambee Stars, who are managed by former South African international Benni McCarthy.

The squad announcement comes as Mosimane continues building momentum following an impressive beginning to his second stint as Bafana Bafana coach.

Among the notable selections is Aden McCarthy, who has earned recognition following his performances for Sabah FK. Boitumelo Radiopane has also secured a place in the extended squad, while Luke Le Roux and Mbekezeli Mbokazi have been recalled.

Mosimane has also opened the door for fresh talent, with uncapped AmaZulu player Nkosikhona Radebe and Richards Bay defender Nqaba Xulu receiving opportunities to compete for places in the national team.

However, the 38-man squad is not the final selection. Mosimane will still have to trim the list before announcing the players who will represent South Africa in the two November fixtures.

Bafana Bafana are scheduled to welcome Kenya to Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Nairobi for the reverse encounter on Tuesday, 17 November.

The upcoming matches are expected to attract considerable attention, particularly because Kenya coach Benni McCarthy will be facing his home nation for the first time since taking charge of the Harambee Stars.

South Africa enter the fixtures in a strong position after making an excellent start to their qualifying campaign.

Mosimane's side currently occupy first place in Group D, having collected maximum points from their opening two matches. They began with a 2-1 victory over Guinea before producing a dominant performance to defeat Eritrea 5-0.

Bafana Bafana also demonstrated their growing confidence with a 1-0 friendly victory against Egypt in Cairo during the same international period.

These encouraging performances have strengthened optimism surrounding the national team under Mosimane's leadership.

Nevertheless, the two encounters against Kenya are expected to present a different challenge, with both nations determined to secure valuable points in their pursuit of qualification for the 2027 continental tournament.

For Mosimane, the expanded squad provides an opportunity to evaluate different combinations, assess emerging talent and strengthen competition within the national team.

With several players hoping to impress before the final announcement, the battle for places is expected to intensify as preparations continue.

South Africa will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten qualifying record and strengthen their position at the top of Group D, while McCarthy's Kenya side will be looking to disrupt Bafana Bafana's impressive start.

All attention will now turn to Mosimane's final squad announcement as Bafana Bafana prepare for two potentially decisive matches in their journey towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

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