Moremi called up to Bafana squad ahead of Guinea qualifier
Orlando Pirates midfielder Tshepang Moremi has been drafted into the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of South Africa’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea, after injury struck the national team camp just days before kickoff.
The call-up comes as a direct result of Lebohang Maboe’s withdrawal, with the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder forced out of camp following an ankle injury picked up during his club’s weekend league fixture. Maboe underwent a scan on Monday that confirmed the extent of the damage, ruling him out of the current FIFA international window entirely — a blow both for the player and for new Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, who now has to rework his midfield plans just days before a defining fixture.
A call-up letter has since been dispatched to Orlando Pirates confirming Moremi’s inclusion, as Mosimane fine-tunes his squad ahead of what is shaping up to be a hugely significant occasion — not just for South African football, but for the coach himself.
A Big Moment for Moremi — and for Mosimane
The timing couldn’t be more significant for Moremi. His call-up arrives during Mosimane’s first competitive assignment since being reappointed Bafana Bafana head coach, meaning the Orlando Pirates man could find himself in the mix for a debut under a coach known for backing young, hard-working talent who fit his high-intensity style of play. For a midfielder plying his trade at one of the country’s biggest clubs, this is exactly the kind of opportunity that can fast-track a career onto the international stage.
It also underlines the value of squad depth heading into a qualifying campaign as unforgiving as this one. With Group D effectively a two-horse race for a single qualification spot — Kenya already through as co-hosts — Mosimane cannot afford instability in his group, and Moremi’s inclusion shows the coaching staff moving quickly to plug the gap rather than risk being short-handed.
Setting the Stage: Bafana vs Guinea
South Africa will host Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, with kickoff set for 15h00 — a fixture already being billed as one of the most consequential opening qualifiers on the continent this window. Because Kenya’s spot in the 2027 AFCON finals is already secured as co-hosts, only the highest-placed of South Africa or Guinea in Group D can progress, turning what would ordinarily be an early-season formality into a virtual knockout tie.
For Mosimane, it’s the ideal — if pressurised — stage to begin his second spell in charge of the national team, having previously led Bafana between 2010 and 2012. Since then, he’s added continental silverware to his résumé at both Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, and expectations are understandably high that he can translate that pedigree into results with the senior national team.
What It Means for Bafana’s Plans
Losing Maboe is undoubtedly a setback — the Chiefs man has been a consistent performer in South Africa’s midfield in recent windows — but Moremi’s inclusion offers Mosimane fresh legs and Orlando Pirates’ current attacking sharpness to call upon. With the Buccaneers enjoying a strong domestic campaign, Moremi arrives in camp full of confidence and match sharpness, exactly what’s needed with such a short turnaround before Saturday’s must-win clash.
All eyes now turn to Orlando Stadium, where Bafana’s AFCON 2027 ambitions — and Mosimane’s reign as head coach — will get their first real test.
