Who were the players chopped from the Bafana squad?

At the beginning of February, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos named a 35-member preliminary squad for the crucial back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Liberia later this month.

Broos’ charges face the Liberians at Orlando Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Friday 24 March (kick off is at 6pm) and then travel by charter flight to Monrovia to tackle the West Africans on 28 March 2023. They return back to Johannesburg a day after the away match.

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As a reminder, this was the original expanded squad selected below:

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Brandon Petersen, Ricardo Goss, and Veli Mothwa

Defenders: Sydney Mobbie, Siyanda Msani, Innocent Maela, Khuliso Mudau, Taariq Fielies, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Thapelo Morena, Mothobi Mvala, Thapelo Maseko, Siyanda Xulu

Midfielders: Miguel Timm, Luke Le Roux, Njabulo Blom, Sphephelo Sithole, Sphelele Mkhulise, Grant Magerman, Teboho Mokoena

Forwards: Monnapule Saleng, Khanyisa Mayo, Themba Zwane, Cassius Mailula, Zakhele Lepasa, Fagrie Lakay, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Percy Tau, Lyle Foster, Kobamelo Kodisang

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On Thursday, this squad was trimmed, although it was rather confusing as to the exact number as – according to the official SAFA website, Broos named a 23-man squad to take on the West African nation.

However, in a squad graphic tweeted by the official Bafana Bafana Twitter account – which SAFA retweeted – 24 names appeared.

It appears there was some confusion over whether or not SuperSport United defender Thapelo Maseko has been included, although it ultimately seems he has been.

So who missed out?

The 11 players dropped include Brandon Petersen (Chiefs), Khuliso Mudau (Sundowns), Siyanda Msani (Richards Bay), Taariq Fielies (Cape Town City), Khanyiso Mayo (Cape Town City), Grant Margeman (SuperSport United), Miguel Timm (Orlando Pirates), Sphelele Mkhulise (Sundowns), Pule Mmodi (Golden Arrows), Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids, Egypt) and Kobamelo Kodisang (Moreirense, Portugal).

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FULL BAFANA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, Ricardo Goss

Defenders: Sydney Mobbie, Innocent Maela, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Grant Kekana, Mothobi Mvala, Siyanda Xulu, Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Thapelo Maseko

Midfielders: Teboho Mokena, Luke Le Roux, Njabulo Blom, Sphelele Sithole

Forwards: Lyle Foster, Percy Tau, Cassius Mailula, Themba Zwane, Mihlali Mayambela, Monnapule Saleng, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Zakhele Lepasa

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