South Africa
coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba has named his squad to face Cameroon in
back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.
The countries will ignite hostilities at the new Stade Omnisport de Limbe on
March 26, and will meet again three days later at Moses Mabhida Stadium in
Durban for the reverse fixture.
Bafana
Bafana trail Cameroon by five points in Group M of the 2017 Nations Cup
qualifiers, and must get an away win to keep their hopes of reaching Gabon next
year alive.
"We
have selected a team that will represent us well. This coming game is a
must-win," Mashaba said at a press conference at SAFA House.
"If
results don't go our way, the second based qualifier is still within our reach.
"We
are aware that Cameroon don't want to slip up. They will come here spitting
fire."
Strikers
Dino Ndlovu and Prince Nxumalo have been rewarded for their good form, as has
Mamelodi Sundowns midfield enforcer Hlompho Kekana.
Mashaba
has kept faith with forwards Thamsanqa Gabuza and Tokelo Rantie, saying the
latter has been active with Bournemouth's second team in England.
"Rantie
has been playing in the second team. Despite not playing in the first team, he
has still been training."
Goalkeepers
Itumeleng Khune and Jackson Mabokgwane have also been called up despite limited
game-time, while the likes of Cheslyn Jampies, Sifiso Hlanti and William Twala
have been handed an opportunity to impress by the Bafana mentor.
Shakes
explained the omission of Keagan Dolly, who has been a key performer for the
national U-23 team and pace-setting Brazilians this season.
"Dolly
is not in the team. One of the reasons is the U-23s have a match coming up. We
didn't want to disrupt them."
Mashaba
added: "We have selected purely on merit. We select players based on what
we know they can do, not on whether they start for their club or not."
Bafana
squad:
Goalkeepers:
Khune, Mabokgwane, Keet.
Defenders:
S. Nhlapo, Mbekile, Ngcongca, Matlaba, Jampies, Mathoho, Hlanti, Coetzee,
Hlatshwayo.
Midfielders:
Jali, Mokotjo, Serero, T. Zwane, Twala, Shongwe, Makola, Masango, Kekana.
Strikers:
Gabuza, Nxumalo, Rantie, Ndlovu.