South Africa coach Stuart Baxter has named 25 players for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria on June 10 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The squad consists of 5 players from overseas and 20 players from the South Africa Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The newly appointed coach who is making his first squad announcement kept faith with majority of the squad that played in the friendlies against Guinea-Bissau and Angola.
Baxter has recalled goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, while Bongani Zulu, Tokelo Rantie and Aubrey Ngoma are also included.
Regulars that made Baxter’s first squad announcement include Itumeleng Khune, Rivaldo Coetzee, Keegan Dolly, Dean Furman, Andile Jali and Kermit Erasmus.
South Africa will look to do one over the Super Eagles with whom they haven’t had much success against. The Bafana Bafana have faced Nigeria 12 times and have lost seven of those and drawn four.
The solitary win over Nigeria came in Baxter’s first stint with the team in 2004 in an international friendly at Ellis Park.
The squad
GOALKEEPERS: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (BidVest Wits), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)
DEFENDERS: Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Thulani Hlatshwayo (BidVest Wits), Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Lorenzo Gordinho (Kaizer Chiefs), Abbubaker Mobara (Orlando Pirates), Tebogo Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sifiso Hlanti (BidVest Wits)
MIDFIELDERS: Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier, France), Andile Jali (KV Oostende FC, Belgium), Kamohelo Mokotjo (FC Twente, Netherlands), Dean Furman (SuperSport United), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Zungu (Vitoria Guimares, Portugal), Aubrey Ngoma (Cape Town City FC)
STRIKERS: Sibusiso Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Manyama (Cape Town City FC), Tokelo Rantie (Genclerbirligi FC, Turkey), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Kermit Erasmus (Lens, France)