Mosimane looks to wingers to reshape Bafana Bafana attack

Pitso Mosimane says Bafana Bafana’s next phase will be driven by a talented group of young wide players, as he prepares the team for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea and an international friendly against Egypt.

The head coach named his final 30-man squad for the three matches and used the announcement to outline his attacking plans. He pointed to the depth available on the wings, suggesting the national team could build on the approach associated with his predecessor, Hugo Broos.

Broos was praised for turning Bafana Bafana into an effective attacking side by favouring wingers instead of filling the centre of midfield with extra players, as previous coaches had done.

Mosimane said younger players would be given an opportunity to prove they could perform at international level, while stressing that squad selection ultimately reflected the preferences of each coach.

“We’re bringing the younger ones now and let them show if they are ready to play. Let them show that the jersey is not heavy. You must also understand it is the coach’s opinion (on the players selected).”

He acknowledged that supporters and observers would always question the omission of certain players, just as they had done with previous managers.

“You might feel the previous coach might have neglected so and so and the same applies to me. You might say, ‘but ahh, my brother here asked me about the player he thinks I have neglected’ so we can’t put them all there,” Mosimane said at a press conference at SAFA House.

Among those pushing for selection is Shandre Campbell, who has impressed with his regular club appearances and ability to operate on either flank. Mosimane also highlighted the return of Luther Singh to the international picture.

“But Shandre Campbell is playing week in and week out and he’s fighting. He is playing on the left and on the right. By the way we’re heavily loaded with wingers, a good generation for us, a good generation for us,” Mosimane said.

He added: “If you’re following, you’ve seen Luther Singh, how powerful, mature, strong. He is coming to give some people a run right. So we want players who score, players who assist, we want players with hunger and I think he is hungry, so let me give him a chance.”

Mosimane’s squad also includes Tashreeq Matthews of Mamelodi Sundowns, adding further depth to the attacking options available to him.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach also named several players with previous World Cup experience, including Thapelo Maseko, who scored at the tournament, as well as Oswin Appollis and Puso Dithejane.

“We have top players who played in the World Cup, (Thapelo) Maseko scored, very good. We have (Oswin) Appollis, top, Puso (Dithejane) on the left. So let’s open this thing and let the game say, not what I say, not what you say, the game talks,” he added.