AFCON 2023: Matthew Booth Discusses Final Bafana Bafana Squad for the Tournament

• South Africa's final squad for AFCON 2023 is made up of local-based players
• Former Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth has weighed in on the squad
• Burnley star striker Lyle Foster was a notable omission from Hugo Broos' roster

African national football teams are preparing for the 34th edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, set to run between January 13 to February 11.

South Africa will take part in the tournament after missing out on the 2022 edition. Their former defender, Matthew Booth, has given his thoughts about the squad selected by Hugo Broos.

South Africa's performances at the Africa Cup of Nations have been underwhelming in the last two decades. They failed to perform and struggled to qualify for some.

They did win it in 1996, then finished second (1998) and third (2000) in their first three AFCON tournaments. Since the turn of the century, they failed to impress. When they hosted it in 2013, they reached the quarter-final.

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Therefore, in this upcoming tournament, there are high expectations of a good showing, although Bafana Bafana are not considered among the favourites.

Booth on Broos' squad

Most of South Africa's squad that will be on the plane to Cote d'Ivoire ply their trade locally in South Africa, except the likes of Percy Tau, Sphephelo Sithole, and Mihlali Mayambela, per BBC.

“I’m quite happy with the squad overall. We [have] an exciting attacking force, which is good to see; looking good,” he told FAR Post.

He also dissected the squad and pointed out some key players omitted.

“There are some players who perhaps deserved to travel and be part of the squad. But I think that’s a sign showing that the squad has more depth than usual. This is good to see and healthy for South African football.”

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

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Yaya Toure labels South Africa AFCON favourites

Sports Brief earlier reported that Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure, has picked his favourite teams to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2015 AFCON winner surprisingly ignored his own country while listing the nations he believes can win the tournament in Ivory Coast.

Toure cited qualification form as the reason for his selection, with Senegal and Guinea Bissau part of his selected picks.