Pitso Mosimane has announced his first preliminary Bafana Bafana squad since taking charge of the South African senior men’s national team this week.
The coach took over from Belgian Hugo Broos on Tuesday. He has since moved quickly to prepare the team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.
Bafana Bafana will open their qualifying campaign at home against Guinea on Saturday, 26 September 2026. They will then travel to face Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
South Africa will complete the international assignment with a friendly against Egypt on 4 October 2026. The match will give Mosimane another chance to assess his squad before he continues shaping the team.
Mosimane Keeps World Cup Core
Mosimane has kept most of the players who represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament took place in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada a few weeks ago.
Bafana Bafana reached the second round of the global tournament. However, several players from that World Cup squad are dealing with injuries and do not feature in the preliminary list.
The new era will also bring an emotional moment for the national team. This will be Bafana Bafana’s first match without the late Jayden Adams, who was laid to rest in Stellenbosch in July 2026.
Meanwhile, Mosimane has also recognised several players who could feature for South Africa’s Under 23 side. Coach Raymond Mdaka is expected to announce his Under 23 squad in the coming weeks.
The two coaches and members of their technical departments remain in regular communication. Their discussions form part of a wider effort to build a clear path for the future of South African football.
The official SAFA website, www.safa.net, will provide further announcements in the coming days. More details will follow as the final pieces of the Bafana Bafana squad come together.
Mosimane will announce his final squad in the coming days. The team will then enter camp as preparations begin for the crucial AFCON qualifiers.
The immediate focus remains on Guinea and Eritrea. However, the friendly against Egypt will also give Mosimane valuable time to assess his options as he begins his tenure with Bafana Bafana.
