Mosimane keeps Williams and Mokoena in South Africa squad despite injury concerns

Pitso Mosimane has included captain Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena in South Africa’s final squad for two successive Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Kenya this month.

Both players are returning from recent injuries and are part of the Mamelodi Sundowns squad due to face USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup final on Sunday. Mosimane said he would assess their involvement in that match before making a final decision on whether they are fit to join the national team.

“They are key players who led us at the first AFCON in 2024, the second AFCON in 2025 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Mosimane said.

“They played in the AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea in September 2026, didn’t they?”

Mosimane said Williams and Mokoena remained important members of his plans, and that the decision on their availability would be delayed for as long as possible.

“They are therefore very important players and we will wait until the last possible moment if the doctors tell me: ‘Coach, we consider them unavailable.’”

He added that South Africa could then call up replacements, as they did during the previous camp when Tshepang Moremi replaced the injured midfielder Lebohang Maboe.

The Bafana Bafana medical team and Mosimane’s technical staff have remained in contact with Mamelodi Sundowns and will continue to monitor the condition of both players.

South Africa will assemble for a training camp in Johannesburg on Sunday, 8 November 2026, ahead of the two qualifying matches against Kenya.