Why Aden McCarthy’s Champions League debut is not enough for a Bafana call-up

Despite making his UEFA Champions League debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Aden McCarthy still does not have a place in the Bafana Bafana squad.

The 22-year-old centre-back put in a decent performance for Sabah despite his side suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Manchester United on Thursday night.

McCarthy left Kaizer Chiefs in July to join Azerbaijani club Sabah and has already featured several times for his new side. However, Thursday’s match was undoubtedly the biggest game of his career as he made his Champions League debut at the iconic Old Trafford.

Playing at the Theatre of Dreams is something every footballer dreams of, and regardless of the result, it is a moment that will live with McCarthy forever.

Why Aden McCarthy is not getting the Bafana nod yet

Before his move to Europe, McCarthy was not really part of the Bafana Bafana plans, having made just one appearance for the national team.

And despite becoming the only South African currently playing in the UEFA Champions League, there are still several centre-backs ahead of him in the national-team pecking order.

The fact that McCarthy is left-footed could have given him an advantage, particularly following the injury to Mbekezeli Mbokazi, but that has not been the case.

New Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has already named his preliminary squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, and McCarthy was once again overlooked.

Jingles has largely stuck with the defensive options used by Hugo Broos at the World Cup, with only a few additions to the squad.

Olwethu Makhanya, Lebone Seema and Ime Okon are all under the age of 24 and predominantly operate on the right side of defence. McCarthy can play there as well, but he is arguably more comfortable on the left side of the centre-back pairing.

That is where he faces competition from Mbokazi and Khulumani Ndamane. With TLB currently injured, it appeared to be the perfect opportunity for McCarthy to earn a recall. Ndamane, meanwhile, has struggled for regular game time at Mamelodi Sundowns, which could have strengthened the case for the former Chiefs defender.

Why Pitso likely snubbed McCarthy in latest Bafana squad

Mosimane perhaps felt bringing McCarthy into the squad would also mean disrupting the defensive combinations and partnerships that have been built over the past year.

Players such as Okon, Ndamane and Nkosinathi Sibisi have spent considerable time playing alongside each other, giving the coaching staff continuity at the back.

One could argue about Seema’s callup given he was not part of Broos’ previous squads. His advantage however, is that he has played with both Mbokazi and Sibisi at club levele and is arguably the best defender in the PSL and that alone warrants his callup.

For that reason, simply being the only South African to feature in the UEFA Champions League is not enough to guarantee McCarthy a place in the Bafana squad, let alone a starting position.

His performances in Azerbaijan will need to reach another level. He needs to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the league and consistently perform at a level that makes it impossible for the national-team selectors to ignore him.

McCarthy is battling for a place alongside Mbokazi, who has emerged as one of the most highly rated young defenders in Africa after earning widespread praise for his performances at the World Cup.

For McCarthy, the route back into the Bafana setup may therefore be through consistency rather than reputation.

At 22, he has a chance to make a reutn should Ndamane fail to establish himself at Mamelodi Sundowns. McCarthy could have a genuine opportunity to leapfrog him and earn a place on the Bafana bench when the squad comes together next month.

For now, his Champions League debut is a significant milestone in his career, but it is not enough on its own to force his way into Mosimane’s plans.