Five Bafana players facing an uncertain future under Pitso Mosimane

Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana tenure is already in full swing after the national team secured victories in his opening two matches.

The wins came against Guinea and lowly ranked Eritrea, but both matches were AFCON qualifiers and will carry significant weight as South Africa’s campaign progresses.

The immediate objective is qualification for next year’s AFCON, but once Bafana secure their place at the tournament, expectations will inevitably rise.

Mosimane has already begun shaping his squad during the qualifiers, and his team is relatively young, with only a handful of players aged over 30.

Most of his squad is around the age of 23, while six members of his starting XI currently play their football in Europe.

With Mosimane seemingly looking towards the future, there are several established Bafana players who could struggle to find their way back into the national team.

Five Bafana players to miss out during Mosimane’s tenure

Grant Kekana

The Mamelodi Sundowns defender has missed out on two major tournaments and appears unlikely to force his way back into the Bafana setup.

Kekana has expressed his desire to return to the national team, but South Africa now has several promising young defenders coming through, including Olwethu Makhanya, Ime Okon and Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

With Mosimane seemingly placing his faith in youth, Kekana’s chances of another Bafana call-up could be slim.

Percy Tau

Percy Tau’s international future is another major question mark.

The Lion of Judah is currently without a club, having been unattached for around six months. At 32, time is also no longer on his side as he looks to revive his club career.

A return to Bafana under Mosimane would have been far more realistic had Tau still been playing regularly at club level.

His experience and previous contribution to the national team could work in his favour, but his lack of competitive football makes a comeback increasingly difficult.

Mothobi Mvala

Mothobi Mvala was one of Bafana’s unsung heroes during their run to a bronze medal at AFCON 2023, but injuries have disrupted his international career since then.

The versatile defender has not featured in the national team setup for some time, and competition for places has become increasingly fierce.

With South Africa boasting several younger defensive options, Mvala could find it difficult to earn another call-up under Mosimane.

Nyiko Mobbie

Nyiko Mobbie was a trusted option for Hugo Broos, particularly during the early years of the Belgian coach’s tenure.

However, after 2023, Mobbie was gradually phased out of the national team, with Broos choosing to rely heavily on Khuliso Mudau at right-back.

Under Mosimane, the competition has become even tougher, with Kamogelo Sebelebele and Thabang Matuludi emerging as options in the position.

Unless there is a major change in circumstances, Mobbie could struggle to find his way back into the squad.

Pitso shaking up Bafana squad

Lebo Mothiba

Mosimane is still searching for a prolific striker who can lead the line for Bafana, but Lebo Mothiba may not be the answer.

The striker has struggled for consistency in front of goal at Mamelodi Sundowns, while his age also works against him as Mosimane looks to build a squad for the future.

With younger attacking options emerging, Mothiba could find himself further down the pecking order and may have to produce a significant run of form to get another opportunity with Bafana.

Pitso Mosimane has his core Bafana team and that won’t change anytime soon.