{"id":46259,"date":"2025-12-30T11:43:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=46259"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:43:09","slug":"predicted-bafana-bafana-xi-in-the-afcon-round-of-16-risky-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2025\/12\/30\/predicted-bafana-bafana-xi-in-the-afcon-round-of-16-risky-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Predicted Bafana XI in AFCON Round of 16: Risky business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Bafana Bafana must wait for confirmation of their AFCON Round of 16 opponents on Wednesday evening. <\/p>\n<p>Hugo Broos\u2019 side will contest that clash in Rabat on Sunday, 4 January 2026 at 21:00 local time.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-will-bafana-bafana-lineup-in-the-afcon-round-of-16\"><strong>How will Bafana Bafana lineup in the AFCON Round of 16?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><em>Williams; Mudau, Ngezana, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole, Mbatha; Moremi, Foster, Appollis. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Although their opponents aren\u2019t yet known, it\u2019s still worth taking a bash at how South Africa could set up. Against Zimbabwe in a chaotic 3-2 win, Broos stuck with the tried and tested back four in front of Ronwen Williams, comprising Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Aubrey Modiba. The Belgian boss opted for Teboho Mokoena and Sphephelo Sithole in a double pivot with Sipho Mbule ahead of them as a number 10. Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi provided the width in attack behind Lyle Foster.<\/p>\n<p>However, Mohau Nkota and Thalente Mbatha could both be used from the start, while Rele Mofokeng is also an option. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-orlando-pirates-to-battle-chiefs-for-messi\"><strong>Orlando Pirates to battle Chiefs for \u2018Messi\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>According to\u00a0<strong>Soccer Laduma<\/strong>, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are two of four PSL sides interested in signing 17-year-old star\u00a0<strong>Cazwill Williams<\/strong>\u00a0from Thames FC. Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy are also keen on the player from the fourth tier of SA football. Williams is nicknamed \u2018Messi\u2019 because of his confidence, pace and dribbling ability off the wings.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reminder-of-the-bafana-squad-at-afcon\"><strong>Reminder of the Bafana squad at AFCON<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, 25 players were called up for\u00a0<strong>AFCON duty<\/strong>, while three remain on standby. There\u2019s also a good mix of locally-based players and ones\u00a0<strong>based abroad<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Goalkeepers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ronwen Williams \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Sipho Chaine \u2013 Orlando Pirates<\/li>\n<li>Ricardo Goss \u2013 Siwelele FC<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Defenders<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Khuliso Mudau \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Nkosinathi Sibisi \u2013 Pirates<\/li>\n<li>Khulumani Ndamane \u2013 TS Galaxy<\/li>\n<li>Thabang Matuludi \u2013 Polowkane City<\/li>\n<li>Siyabonga Ngezana \u2013 \u00a0FCSB<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mbekezeli Mbokazi \u2013 Chicago Fire<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Aubrey Modiba \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Samukelo Kabini \u2013 Molde<\/li>\n<li>Tylon Smith \u2013 Queens Park Rangers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Midfielders<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teboho Mokoena \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Bathusi Aubaas \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Thalente Mbatha \u2013 Pirates<\/li>\n<li>Sphephelo Sithole \u2013 Tondela<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Forwards<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Oswin Appollis \u2013 Orlando Pirates<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Mohau Nkota \u2013 Al Ettifaq<\/li>\n<li>Sipho Mbule \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Relebohile Mofokeng \u2013 Orlando Pirates<\/li>\n<li>Elias Mokwana \u2013 Al Khazem<\/li>\n<li>Shandre Campbell \u2013 Club Brugge<\/li>\n<li>Lyle Foster \u2013 Burnley<\/li>\n<li>Tshepang Moremi \u2013 Pirates<\/li>\n<li>Evidence Makgopa \u2013 Pirates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-three-players-have-been-placed-on-standby-to-train-in-south-africa-in-case-of-injury\"><strong>Three players have been placed on standby to train in South Africa in case of injury:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Iqraam Rayners \u2013 Mamelodi Sundowns<\/li>\n<li>Mduduzi Shabalala \u2013 Kaizer Chiefs<\/li>\n<li>Thabo Moloisane \u2013 Stellenbosch<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Predicted #Bafana #AFCON #Risky #business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bafana Bafana must wait for confirmation of their AFCON Round of 16 opponents on Wednesday evening. Hugo Broos\u2019 side will&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46259"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46259\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46261,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46259\/revisions\/46261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}