By Akinwale Kasali
With less than two weeks to the 2019 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers match between Stuart Baxter led Bafana Bafana of South Africa and three time AFCON champions, The Super Eagles of Nigeria, the coach of the former apartheid country is not leaving any stone unturned as he has named a strong 23-man squad that will trade tackles with Gernot Rohr side in Pretoria on Saturday November, 17th, to know who tops Group E.
The Southern Africa country had earlier defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo last year, to top the group, and had also convincingly defeated the Seychelles 6-0 at the Port Elizabeth stadium in Durban, before playing a goalless draw in Victoria.
The Super Eagles sit atop the log with Nine points from four games while the South Africa team has Eight point to sit second on the log.
Baxter has called up goalkeepers Itumeleng Khune, Ronwen Williams, Darren Keet as well as defenders Ramahle Mphahlele, Motjeka Madisha, Siyanda Xulu, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Innocent Maela, S’Fiso Hlanti,Buhle Mkwanazi, Thamsanqa Mkhize.
The midfielders are Vincent Pule, Lebogang Maboe, Hlompho Kekana, Fortune Makaringa, Teboho Mokoena, Samuel Mabunda, Thembinkosi Lorch, Thulani Serero and the strikers are Themba Zwane, Lebo Mothiba, Dino Ndlovu, Percy Tau.
Baxter said on the team’s Twitter handle, “It has really been a tough task to select the team to face Nigeria without some of our regular players, but we have to soldier on.”
