Steve Barker Disappointed by the Number of Stellenbosch Players in Bafana’s AFCON Preliminary Squad

• Steve Barker has discussed the number of Stellenbosch players in South Africa's preliminary squad for AFCON
• The Stellenbosch head coach also disclosed why he is a little bit disappointed in Hugo Broos' provisional list
• The PSL side have three players in the 50-man provisional squad announced by the Belgian manager on Thursday

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has reacted to the number of his club's players named in Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Broos unveiled his 50-man provisional squad for the biggest football tournament in Africa on Thursday, and he is expected to trim it down to 23 before the start of the tournament next year.

South Africa are grouped alongside Tunisia, Mali, and Namibia in Group E.

Barker claimed he was glad to see three of his players making South Africa's provisional list for AFCON, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.

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"It is nice for us to have three players to be in the preliminary squad – Fawaaz, Iqraam, and Jayden," he said.

"But knowing all three players, they are consistently good footballers, so I assume it is more of a chance not to make your names, it is an opportunity, if they are on that list, it indicates that there is possibility of them making the final AFCON squad."

The South African tactician also disclosed why he is disappointed despite having three players on the preliminary squad.

"I am a little bit discontented because possibly we deserve to have the 55-man provisional squad and that some are not there," he added.

South Africans blast Broos' preliminary AFCON squad

Sports Brief earlier reported that South African football fans criticised Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos after announcing his 50-man preliminary squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

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The Belgian manager included some of the finest players in the Premier Soccer League in his preliminary squad and also Bafana Bafana players abroad.

One of the major surprises on the list was Burnley striker Lyle Foster who is currently unavailable due to mental health issues, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.