Bongani Zungu

Bongani Zungu of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifiers match between South Africa and Sudan at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 17 November 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Bafana Bafana | Zungu to miss Ghana clash, Serero & Furman ruled out

Bafana Bafana team doctor Thulani Ngwenya has confirmed that Bongani Zungu will miss Thursday’s AFCON qualifier against Ghana.

Bongani Zungu

Bongani Zungu of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifiers match between South Africa and Sudan at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 17 November 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Bafana Bafana team doctor and compliance officer Dr. Thulani Ngwenya has confirmed that Bongani Zungu will miss Thursday’s AFCON qualifier against Ghana.

However, the Rangers FC midfielder will be available for the match against Sudan on the weekend, and will link up with his Bafana Bafana teammates on Friday.

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This is because of Covid-19 travel restrictions where a number of overseas-based players were denied the chance to travel to South Africa.

After negotiations with Rangers, Bafana Bafana managed to secure the services of the Zungu for the match in Khartoum.  

According to Ngwenya, the agreement was reached after Zungu agreed that he was willing to quarantine for 10-14 days on his return to Scotland.

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Furthermore, Ngwenya said the team is still hopeful of having Keagan Dolly available for the two AFCON matches but said they will know by end of Tuesday if Montpellier will agree.  

“Zungu is confirmed. He’ll be joining us in Sudan. With Dolly we’re still hoping and there are still negotiations happening‚” Ngwenya told TimesLIVE.

Ngwenya further confirmed that both Thulani Serero and Dean Furman will not take part in the upcoming matches after their teams decided against their release.

“But then Thulani [Serero] and Dean [Furman] it’s confirmed — they are not coming.”

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In preparing for what has been a frustrating week in the Bafana Bafana camp, coach Molefi Ntseki called up three PSL-based to plug the possible gaps.

Vincent Pule, Thabo Nodada and Mothobi Mvala joined the Bafana Bafana camp on Monday while Lebohang Maboe and Thabiso Kutumela replaced the injured duo of Kermit Erasmus and Bradley Grobler.