Hugo Broos Hit With a Big Blow As Bafana Bafana Star Is Ruled Out of AFCON 2023

• Hugo Broos has been dealt with a huge blow ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
• The Belgian manager announced his provisional squad list for the tournament recently
• The Bafana Bafana are set to be without one of their most important for the competition

South African manager Hugo Broos has been hit with a big blow ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as Bafana Bafana star has been ruled out of the competition.

The Belgian manager recently released his 50-man preliminary squad ahead of Africa's biggest football competition.

The Bafana Bafana provisional list for AFCON came under criticism from South African fans on social media, and they've lost one of their most reliable player on the list.

RCS Strasbourg striker Lebo Mothiba has been ruled out of the competition after his club confirmed that he is set to undergo surgery after fracturing his patella (knee) over the weekend, according to a report by iDiskiTimes.

Ranking the Top 10 most capped Male African Footballers of All Time

Football

Mothiba is set to be out for months, which will automatically rule him out of Broos' final 23-man squad for AFCON.

The South African striker has garnered 15 appearances this season under Patrick Vieira in the French Ligue 1 and has been constantly included in Broos squad during the qualifiers and international friendlies.

The Strasbourg star is not the only player who is set to miss the competition, with the availability of Lyle Foster being under serious doubt.

The Burnley forward was also part of the 50-man list but his club coach Vincent Kompany claimed he is not ready to be back in action.

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.

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.