BROOS PICKS BOLD AND BIG FOR BAFANA’S AFCON BID

Hugo Broos has named a 54‑player preliminary Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.

The preliminary squad has given fans plenty to talk about.

One of the biggest talking points? The return of Themba Zwane, still recovering from injury but trusted by Broos to be in the mix. Alongside Zwane, Broos has injected fresh talent into his setup with names like Tylon Smith and Shandre Campbell that have broken through, offering youthful energy to the side.

It’s a carefully balanced group. Broos has blended established stars with emerging talent, using mostly home‑based players. In total, 13 from Orlando Pirates and 10 from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Broos also included 12 foreign-based stars. He’s spoken before about how building a “fearless mentality” is central to his squad philosophy.

Despite the large squad, Broos knows tough decisions lie ahead as the pool must be cut to just 23 players for the final roster. The announcement reflects his ambition and belief in a Bafana team that’s ready to compete for African glory.

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