Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda Ndlovu, 23, has been called up to the South Africa national team for the first time for the AFCON qualifiers against Kenya. Head coach Pitso Mosimane has left out Sabah FK defender Aden McCarthy, despite his good form.
Pitso Mosimane, head coach of the Bafana Bafana, has named the players called up for the double header against Kenya in the AFCON qualifiers. Among them is Siyanda Ndlovu, who is new to the national team, according to SuperSport.
At the same time, Aden McCarthy, the 22-year-old Sabah FK defender, is not among those called up, despite his good form with his club.
A winger named man of the match twice
Ndlovu was named man of the match twice in his last four games, with goals and assists to show for it. He spent three seasons at Lamontville Golden Arrows before signing for Mamelodi Sundowns this season. He previously used the surname Mthanti, SuperSport notes.
“If you look at his last four games, he got two man of the match awards, scoring, providing assists and producing very thoughtful actions… a bit of a double for Thapelo Maseko,” Pitso Mosimane said.
The head coach also described the type of player he is looking for: “And I like those wingers, you know? Coming inside, one against one, getting behind defenders and going past them, bringing the ball into the box. Those are my types of wingers.”
McCarthy left out despite his form
Aden McCarthy is nonetheless in form with Sabah FK, second in the league with 20 points from nine games, according to All Football. The defender scored in the Champions League, before being sent off on Wednesday evening in the match at Viking.
His omission comes as the squad includes two other defenders, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Olwethu Makhanya, whose profile is comparable to his.
Mbokazi back, Makhanya up and running
Mbekezeli Mbokazi, the Chicago Fire centre-back, returns to the squad after the 2026 World Cup. “We have to give Mbokazi the chance to come back with the national team because he did exceptionally well for the national team,” Mosimane told SABC TV, via All Football. Olwethu Makhanya, the Rangers defender, who is up and running with his club, is also among those called up.
The stakes remain the two matches against Kenya, played home and away in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. South Africa are targeting victory in Group D, while Kenya, co-host of the competition, have already qualified.