AFCON2023: Bafana Bafana fixtures, venues, and group
Bafana Bafana are back at yet another AFCON tournament still clinging that lone successful winning stint back in 1996. Some of those in the present will only about Mark Williams’ trophy-winning goals in the final from story-tellers and television documentaries.
Belgian coach Hugo Broos has brought cautious hope that another AFCON star will be added to the Bafana Bafana jersey, but many are still skeptical despite a good run of results in the past couple of years. The South Africans qualified from three-team group that featured Africa’s World Cup heroes, Morocco and the unfancied Liberia. 11 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses is not as a bad a record as some make it out to be for the 71-year-old mentor.
So awaits Bafana Bafana at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations? Let’s take a closer look at the fixtures, venues, and group for the 1996 champions.
Fixtures
16 January VS Mali, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, 21:00
21 January VS Namibia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, 21:00
24 January VS Tunisia, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, 18:00
Venues
Bafana Bafana will be in the northern city of Korhogo for all their group games. The Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium has a capacity of 20,000.
Group
It’s a tricky group to negotiate for with one neighbour amongst the three opponents.
- Mali
- Namibia
- Tunisia
Preparations
Only one training match, to be played behind closed doors, against Lesotho is scheduled for Bafana Bafana. Not the best preparations for a team chasing the title but Hugo Broos has hardly deviated in his selections so the group will know each well. France-based Lebo Mothiba is injured while Lyle Foster is attending to health issues. Besides the Lesotho game, Bafana Bafana are scheduled to hold an intensive training camp in Stellenbosch from the 4th to the 9th of January.
Provisional Squad
Here is the provisional squad selected by Hugo Broos which will be trimmed to 27 on the 28th of December.
Goalkeepers:
Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, Ricardo Goss, Melusi Buthelezi, Bruce Bvuma
Defenders:
Sydney Mobbie, Grant Kekana, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba, Thabiso Monyane, Mothibi Mvala, Siyanda Xulu, Given Msimango, Bradley Cross, Thapelo Maseko, Siyabonga Ngezana, Thapelo Xoki, Themba Matshiyane, Ime Okon, Thapelo Morena, Terence Mashigo, Khuliso Mudau, Fawaaz Basadien
Midfielders:
Teboho Mokoena, Grant Margeman, Jayden Adams, Njabulo Blom, Miguel Timm, Thabang Monare, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Bathusi Auba
Strikers:
Mihlali Mayambela, Themba Zwane, Evidence Makgopa, Kgaogelo Sekgota, Percy Tau, Zakhele Lepasa, Lyle Foster, Lebo Mothiba, Monnapule Saleng, Tsephang Moremi, Elias Monene, Bongikuhle Hlongwane, Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners
