South Africa’s Premier Soccer League will be well represented over the next week as the last places for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco are determined.
The Bafana Bafana squad is, as always, dominated by players from the top PSL clubs but there is also a healthy representation of players at South African clubs who are off on duty with their national teams as the last rounds of the qualifiers are concluded
Supersport.com offers an exclusive look at all the countries who have South African-based players in their squad for the final two rounds of preliminaries for Morocco 2025.
Eswatini have dropped Justice Figuarado from Richards Bay for their final two Group I games while Richard Ofori has not been able to get back into the Ghana squad despite his performances at AmaZulu.
But for the rest, the PSL is well represented for the final stretch of the qualifying campaign:
ANGOLA
Gilberto from Orlando Pirates is back in the Palanacs Negras squad despite a lack of game time since joining the Buccaneers. Angola have already qualified from Group F and are looking to keep up their 100 per cent record by beating Ghana in Luanda on Friday and finishing with an away triumph over Sudan.
BENIN
Marcel Dandjinou has been at JDR Stars for the last five seasons and served as back-up keeper for his country for most of that time. But in this Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, he has taken over as first choice and played in all four matches as Benin sit second in their group. They face Nigeria in Abidjan on Thursday and then Libya away on Monday.
BOTSWANA
The Zebras saw their coach Didier Gomes da Rosa leave for a job in Libya last month but are still on course to the make the finals if they can beat Mauritania in Francistown on Friday. They will be captained by Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and with South African coach Morena Ramoreboli acting as caretaker for their last two matches of the campaign.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Polokwane City goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga has been ever present for his club in the Betway Premiership this season but sat on the bench for his country in the Cup of Nations qualifiers, as he did at the last finals in the Ivory Coast where the Nzalang Nacional sent shockwaves through the tournament. Equatorial Guinea are on the brink of qualifying yet again.
IVORY COAST
The African champions have two South African-based players in their squad, both the back up goalkeepers. Veteran Ali Badra Sangare is at Sekhukhune United while Ira Tape is newly arrived at TS Galaxy this season. The Ivorians have still not qualified to defend their title but need only one point from their Group G clash against Zambia in Ndola on Friday.
KENYA
Ian Otieno was on the losing side with Richards Bay as they lost to Magesi in the Carling Knockout semifinal in Durban on Saturday but now tuns his attention to try to help the Harambee Stars overcome both Zimbabwe and Namibia in their last two matches in Group J. Kenya must win both to stand any chance of qualifying.
LESOTHO
Likuena are still looking for their first win in Group B and host the Central African Republic in Bloemfontein on Thursday before heading to Morocco for their last fixture. They have former South Africa under-23 international Thabo Makhele (Chippa United) in their squad, along with Tebeho Letsema (Sekhukhune United) and Motebang Sera from Royal AM.
From the Mostepe Foundation Championship, they have selected goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane (Orbit College), Thato Sefoli (Upington City) and Tlotliso Phatsisi (Black Leopards) and defender Fusi Matlahe from ABC Motsepe League sde Mpheni Defenders.
MALAWI
The ex-Zimbabwe international Kalisto Pasuwa was named caretaker coach for Malawi’s final two Group L fixtures, after they fired former Kaizer Chiefs defender Patrick Mabedi. Pasuwa has wasted no time in recalling the Marumo Gallants striker Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango to the squad for the last two games against Burundi and Burkina Faso. Malawi have already been eliminated.
NAMIBIA
Coach Collin Benjamin named 10 players from the Premier Soccer League for the last two Group J games against Cameroon and Kenya. Peter Shalulile will lead the attack with leading performers like Riaan Hanamub and Deon Hotto also in the team.
Others in the squad are Loydt Kazapua (Sekhukhune United), Edward Maova (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Approcius Petrus and Prins Tjiueza from Cape Town City, Elmo Kambindu (Chippa United), Betuel Muzeu (Black Leopards) and Rewaldo Prins (Marumo Gallants).
UGANDA
Uganda’s first choice goalkeeper is Isima Watenga, despite the fact he has not played for Lamontville Golden Arrows this season where Namibia international Edward Maova has featured in all the matches. Watenga is one of two South African-based players in the squad to face Bafana Bafana and Congo in their last two Group K fixtures along with Venda FC goalkeeper Charles Lukwago.
ZIMBABWE
A point in Polokwane on Friday when they hosts Kenya at the Peter Mokaba Stadium will be enough to see the Warriors return to the Cup of Nations finals after being banned for the last edition.
They have veteran Marumo Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi in the squad along with his clubmate Daniel Msendami, plus Divine Lunga from champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Terrence Dzvukamanja from SuperSport United and striker Douglas Mapfumo from Polokwane City.