Head coach Pitso Mosimane unveiled a 26-man Bafana Bafana squad on Thursday for the double header against Kenya, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lyle Foster returning and Siyanda Ndlovu the surprise inclusion.
Pitso Mosimane has made his call. On Thursday, the Bafana Bafana head coach made public a 26-man squad for the double header against Kenya in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, All Football reports. South Africa host the first leg at the Orlando Amstel Arena on 13 November, with the return match four days later.
Two recalls stand out in the squad: defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who missed the wins over Guinea and Eritrea through injury, and striker Lyle Foster, short of form at the start of the season but now playing regularly in MLS with Houston Dynamos. The head coach also sprang a surprise by calling up Siyanda Ndlovu, who was not on the preliminary list.
Mbokazi back after injury
Absent from the Bafana Bafana’s first two outings, Mbekezeli Mbokazi returns to the national team just as he wins back his place in the Chicago Fire starting XI in MLS, according to The Citizen. “I have to give Mbokazi an opportunity (to play for me), he did exceptionally well at the World Cup,” Pitso Mosimane explained to The Citizen.
The defender’s return comes after South Africa opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Guinea, followed by a 5-0 victory over Eritrea.
Foster, Ndlovu: Mosimane’s choices
Lyle Foster, 25, is also back. His start to the season had raised questions, but the striker now plays regularly for Houston Dynamos. “Are we burying Lyle? Is he finished? He is 25, is he no longer a good player?” said Mosimane, again according to The Citizen.
Siyanda Ndlovu’s call-up rewards his performances with Mamelodi Sundowns. The striker was named man of the match for the third time in the Carling Black Label Knockout, against Golden Arrows. “Ndlovu has been man of the match three or four times. We cannot ignore that,” stressed the head coach.
Zwane left out, Williams and Mokoena included
Not every choice is unanimous. Themba Zwane is not in the squad: Mosimane said he had called the player personally to explain his decision. Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena, meanwhile, are called up despite missing three matches for Sundowns through injury. Aden McCarthy, who was on the preliminary list, is left out.
The group’s context raises the stakes. With Kenya co-hosting the 2027 AFCON, only one team from the group will qualify: the Bafana Bafana must finish top, All Football recalls. Every point from the double header against Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars will therefore carry real weight. The first meeting is set for 13 November 2026 at the Orlando Amstel Arena.