Mosimane’s First Bafana Squad: Fresh Faces and Key Decisions

Pitso Mosimane has wasted no time putting his stamp on Bafana Bafana.

Days after taking the national team job, the new head coach has announced a 35-man preliminary squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as reported by TimesLIVE. It’s the first official squad of his reign, and it already hints at a shift in direction.

Pamoja opener at home

South Africa’s qualifying journey forms part of the Pamoja tournament, jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Bafana will kick off with a home clash against Guinea on 26 September, a fixture that will serve as Mosimane’s first real test on the touchline.

After that, the team heads away to face Eritrea. Eritrea, unable to host international football on home soil due to stadium standards, will play their “home” match in Egypt. Neutral ground, high stakes.

Injury blows from Broos’ core

Mosimane’s plans are already shaped by a few unavoidable absences.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Khuliso Mudau, Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa have all missed out on the preliminary list through injury. All four were part of the backbone under former coach Hugo Broos during the 2026 World Cup campaign, and their absence tears out a sizeable chunk of continuity from the previous cycle.

It forces Mosimane to look elsewhere. And he has.

New blood steps into the frame

The preliminary squad is dotted with fresh or less familiar names, a clear sign that competition for places has been thrown wide open.

• Lebone Seema
• Tshepo Mashilane
• Jemran Dansin
• Yanela Mutuma
• Cassius Mailula
• Puso Dithejane
• Tashreeq Matthews
• Ronaldo van Niel
• Luther Singh
• Shandre Campbell

All feature among the notable inclusions. Some bring attacking flair, others versatility, all of them a sense of renewal.

Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Lebohang Maboe, both left out of the final 2026 World Cup squad, are back in the conversation as well. For players on the fringes, Mosimane’s arrival looks like a reset button.

Core leaders kept in place

Amid the fresh faces, the spine of the side remains intact.

Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is in. So are Sipho Chaine, Tapelo Morena and Aubrey Modiba, providing stability at the back and down the flanks. In central defence and midfield, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Teboho Mokoena and Sphephelo Sithole retain their spots, anchoring the team with experience and familiarity.

Further forward, Relebohile Mofokeng and Themba Zwane stay on, offering creativity and guile in the attacking third. Mosimane has clearly chosen evolution over revolution: new energy layered on top of an established core.

The names are on paper now. The real judgment comes when Guinea arrive, and when Bafana walk out in Egypt for that “away” date with Eritrea.