Maboe Ruled Out of AFCON Qualifier as Moremi Called Up

Bafana Bafana’s preparations for their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier have taken an early hit, with coach Pitso Mosimane forced into a late change to his squad.

Lebohang Maboe has been withdrawn from the camp in Johannesburg after suffering an ankle injury while turning out for Kaizer Chiefs over the weekend. He reported for national duty on Sunday night, but the optimism didn’t last long.

Team doctor Dr Tshepo Molobi confirmed that scans on Monday ended any hope of Maboe featuring in this international window.

“He twisted his ankle while playing for Kaizer Chiefs and after undergoing a scan, he will be ruled out from the current camp and this FIFA window,” Dr Molobi told the SAFA media team.

The setback arrives just days before South Africa launch their AFCON qualifying campaign at Orlando Stadium, where they host Guinea on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 15h00 in Soweto, with Mosimane looking to start the road to 2027 with a statement performance.

The response from the Bafana bench was swift. Mosimane has already moved to plug the gap, confirming that a call-up letter for Tshepang Moremi has been sent to Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers player now has a chance to step into a high-pressure fixture with little time to ease in.

Off the pitch, the push is on to fill Orlando Stadium. Match tickets are on sale, including hospitality packages, with prices set at R100,00 for adults and R40,00 for children under 12. Supporters have been reminded that at least one adult ticket must be purchased before a child’s ticket can be added, with kids’ tickets unavailable as standalone purchases.

Hospitality bookings are being handled via mobile on 082 805 3150 or through the published email contact, as South Africa aim to pack the stands and turn Orlando into a fortress for the first step of a long AFCON journey.