Broos names his final Bafana Afcon squad

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced his final squad for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Broos selected 23 players and put another three on standby, saying this is the personnel that will do battle in the West African country against the continent’s best national teams.

“If we do not go past the group stages, we will not be happy, and that is for sure,” the Bafana Bafana coach said after announcing the team for the tournament on Thursday afternoon (28 December).

“I think that has to be the first goal. You know, going past the group stages is one of the most difficult things to do in the tournament. It is like that because you are playing against three opponents that are 100 per cent motivated, and they also want to go past the group stage,” said the Bafana Bafana coach.

The final squad as announced by Coach Hugo Broos earlier today, to compete at #AFCON2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. Congratulations and good luck Bafana Bafana!!! #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/u9cNoZ98dA — Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 28, 2023

Broos’s charges will assemble for camp on 4 January 2024 and then travel to Stellenbosch for a training camp that will be held in the Western Cape city until 9 January.

Bafana Bafana will then play a training match against Lesotho behind closed doors at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville before departing for Ivory Coast on 11 January.