US-based forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane and midfielder Sipho Mbule are back in the Bafana Bafana setup after a long time out of the national team.
Hlongwane and Mbule have been named by Bafana coach Hugo Broos in the 38-man preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
South Africa will face Uganda away and South Sudan at home in the last two fixtures for the qualifiers to be played in November.
A victory should be enough for Broos’ men to secure their place in the Afcon finals to be staged in Morocco in December 2025.
Hlongwane has been left out of the Bafana setup for the past year, despite doing well for his Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.
The last time the former Maritzburg United star formed part of Broos’ team was during the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda in November last year.
Mbule dropped out of the team due to a lack of game time at Mamelodi Sundowns.
He will be excited that his loan move to Sekhukhune United is starting to bring positive changes to his game. The last time Mbule donned Bafana colours was in 2021.
In his list, Broos also included Jayden Adams who was dropped from the national team for being ill-disciplined early this month.
Bafana have to continue with their business without trusted soldier Themba Zwane.
The Sundowns star is nursing an Achilles injury he picked up during the clash against Congo Brazzaville at the beginning of the month.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 38-player preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifers against Uganda (away) and South Sudan (at home) to be played in November 2024. The final 23-player list will be named in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/vGZ8cnHPaW
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 29, 2024
