Kaizer Chiefs and Thembinkosi Lorch Sidelined As South Africa Rates Hugo Broos’ AFCON Selection

• Kaizer Chiefs fans have reacted strongly at not being represented in South Africa's AFCON squad
• Hugo Broos named a squad short of attacking quality after the withdrawal of Burnley's Lyle Foster
• 20 of the 23 players come from the DStv Premiership but the leading goal scorer is not included

Bafana Bafana fans and critics have made their voices heard.

Football fans from south of the Limpopo river have reacted with a mix of scorn, bemusement and mockery as Hugo Broos finalised his 23-man squad to chase AFCON glory.

The reactions have been more about the omissions than the chosen players, with social media highlighting the missing Kaizer Chiefs players as well as fan favourite Thembinkosi Lorch.

Lorch's exclusion was inevitable having not been selected in the preliminary squad. Other forced absentees are Lyle Foster and Lebo Mothiba, leaving Bafana desperately short of an international quality goal scorer.

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The overwhelming majority of players are based at home, yet league form does not seem to have been a consideration for Broos.

Zakhele Lepasa and Orlando Pirates teammate, Evidence Makgopa have scored three goals in the domestic league but are well short of their rivals.

Khanyisa Mayo is the league's top scorer with seven goals, while Tshegofatso Mabasa and Bradley Grobler have 6 and 5 goals, respectively.

Reacting to Lorch's situation, TT @Tash_16 posted

"To think Hugo Broos is leaving Lorch behind for Afcon"

Muzi Bucs @MuziBucs added:

"A long as Lorch is happy who cares about Hugo Broos"

#PutSouthAfricansFirst @Patriot_S_A offered a possible explanation, stating:

"Lorch has a criminal record of GBV, it will send a wrong message out there."

While Bongani Mabhena@BongzM7 retorted:

"He has already been sentenced. That is the only message that matters."

As for Kaizer Chiefs, South African Twitter is merciless.

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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.