No Sundowns players as Broos names new-look Bafana squad for important June friendlies
With the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations sharpening into view, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has named his 23-man squad for a pair of international friendlies next month against Tanzania and Mozambique.
Ranked 56th in the latest FIFA rankings, South Africa will first welcome 107th-ranked Tanzania to the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday, 6 June.
Four days later, on Tuesday, 10 June, they'll clash with 96th-ranked Mozambique at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The friendlies are more than just warm-ups - they're key tune-ups for what promises to be a demanding calendar, with World Cup qualification and the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco fast approaching. The continental showpiece kicks off this December and will spill into early 2026.
Broos named a wide 41-man provisional squad last week, but now, he's trimmed it to a tight 23.
Noticeably absent from the selection are players from Mamelodi Sundowns - unsurprising, given the Betway Premiership champions will be representing Africa at the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup in the United States from 15 June.
The omission of the Sundowns core has forced Broos to reshuffle his pack, offering opportunities to fringe players and rising talents keen to stake their claim on the international stage.
The team will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, 1 June, before heading to Polokwane later that same day.
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