AFCON 2023: Bafana Head Coach Hugo Broos Set to Submit Preliminary Squad to CAF amid Bonus Stalemate

• Hugo Broos set to finalise preliminary squad for 2023 AFCON amidst bonus stalemate
• Bafana Bafana players express dissatisfaction with the proposed bonus structure
• The bonus dispute is almost similar to Banyana Banyana's just before the FIFA Women’s World Cup this year

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is gearing up to submit his preliminary squad to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals scheduled in the Ivory Coast.

The final squad list will be conveyed to CAF between January 2 and 3 next year, with the squad scheduled to assemble for the tournament on January 4, 2024.

While preparations for the tournament intensify, talks between the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Bafana players regarding bonus fees are reportedly at a standstill.

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SAFA presented a bonus structure to the players, but senior figures, including captain Rowen Williams, expressed dissatisfaction, deeming it to be not in line with their expectations.

Despite SAFA proposing an alternative offer, it was met with rejection.

According to a source reported by iDiski Times, a significant deadlock looms for Bafana, echoing a situation resonant to Banyana Banyana's bonus dispute.

Speaking at SAFA House on Saturday, December 9, 2023, immediately following a national executive committee meeting, Monyepao acknowledged that negotiations with the players were still at an impasse.

Monyepao said, as quoted on Independent Online:

"We are still in discussions, and we haven't concluded the negotiations yet. I am optimistic that through my discussions with the senior players before the year's end, we can reach an agreement before they enter the training camp."

She added that they engaged players in September concerning the bonuses for international competitions before the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and reached an agreement.

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Hugo Broos hails Bafana Bafana star

Sport Brief earlier reported that Hugo Broos revealed the Bafana Bafana player who brings something different to his team.

The former Cameroon manager claimed that Racing Strasbourg striker Lebo Mothiba brings something different to the Bafana Bafana.

Mothiba had been out of the South African national team set-up since 2019 due to two separate knee injuries but performances for Racing Strasbourg under new manager Patrick Vieira earned him a place back in the national team.