Mosimane keeps Williams and Mokoena in Bafana Bafana squad despite injury doubts

Pitso Mosimane has included Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena in his latest Bafana Bafana squad, despite both players being doubtful for Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Super Cup final against USM Alger on Sunday.

The pair have missed recent matches for Mamelodi Sundowns because of injuries, but Mosimane has decided against ruling them out of South Africa’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.

The Bafana Bafana coach says he will wait for a final assessment from the medical team before deciding whether either player must withdraw from the squad.

Williams and Mokoena have been important figures in the national side, having used their experience to help drive what has been one of Bafana Bafana’s most memorable periods. They have featured in the team’s campaigns for the first AFCON, the second AFCON and the World Cup, as well as in matches against Guinea and Eritrea.

“Those are key players for us who have been leading us to the first AFCON and the second AFCON and the World Cup. They’ve been part of the games for Guinea and Eritrea, so they are very important players,” Mosimane told media.

“We will wait for the last, last, last time where the doctors must say to me ‘coach, rule them out’ and then we can bring other players. We’ve got to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“You and me don’t know, what if they play on Saturday (Sunday)? and I rule them out today? You’ll ask me why I left out Teboho and Williams.

“I’ve got doctors who communicate and I’ve got KB (Kabelo Rangoaga) who communicates to analysts for data that side. We have to be very careful with the national team. We don’t just have a knee-jerk reaction and all that. We wait till the end.”

Bafana Bafana lead Group D of the qualifiers on six points and face two matches against Kenya, with points vital to their position in the group.

Second-placed Guinea will play Eritrea in successive fixtures, and Guinea are expected to be favourites to take six points from those matches. That increases the importance of South Africa securing positive results against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya side.

Bafana Bafana will host Kenya at Orlando Stadium on November 13 before travelling to Nairobi for the return fixture four days later.

Mosimane’s decision leaves Williams and Mokoena in contention while the final medical verdict remains pending. If doctors rule either player out, the coach says replacements can then be brought into the squad.