Hugo Broos Announces His 23 Man Bafana Bafana AFCON Squad, leaves out Bongi Hlongwane

• Hugo Broos announced his AFCON squad live on terrestrial television
• The Belgian named a preliminary 50-man training squad on December 14
• South Africa are drawn in Group E along with Mali, Namibia and Tunisia

The final decision has been made for the men to be sent in pursuit of history.

Hugo Broos will lead South Africa into their 11th Africa Cup of Nations in roughly two weeks and is reading out the names of his 23-man squad.

The tournament will be staged in Ivory Coast and begins in Abidjan on January 13 when the hosts take on Guniea-Bissau.

Hugo Broos made his announcement from Belgium, where he has returned for the festive season.

The squad consists of 23 full selections and three standby players. Broos said before naming the team that he wanted more rest time for the players, stating that he wrote a letter to the PSL requesting the league end earlier.

Foster, Siyabonga in as Broos names South Africa's preliminary AFCON squad

Football

That request was denied, meaning the players will assemble on January 4 and leave for Cape Town the following day before flying to the Ivory Coast on January 10.

South Africa's 23-man AFCON squad is:

1. Ronwen Williams
2. Veli Mothwa
3. Ricardo Goss
4. Sydney Mobbie
5. Grant Kekana
6. Terrence Mashego
7. Nkosinathi Sibisi
8. Aubrey Modiba
9. Mothobi Mvala
10. Siyanda Xulu
11. Khuliso Mudau
12. Teboho Mokoena
13. Sphephelo Sithole
14. Jayden Adams
15. Thabang Morane
16. Thapelo Maseko
17. Thapelo Morena
18. Themba Zwane
19. Zakhele Lephasa
20. Oswin Appollis
21. Mihlali Mayembela
22. Percy Tau
23. Evidence Makgopa

The three reserve players will stay in South Africa and shall be called if the need arises.

Much talk has been said of Lyle Foster, but Broos clarified that lengthy discussions and medical advice deemed his selection 'impossible'.

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Who are Hugo Broos' Group E rivals?

Sports Brief recently compiled a list of the three head coaches who stand between South African and Group E progression.

Hugo Broos will be the oldest of the four head coaches, with almost 20 years between him and the least junior.

The Belgian is the only manager of the four Group E combatants to have gone all the way, having done so in 2017