Pitso Mosimane Explains Ndlovu Call-Up - McCarthy Omission And Emotional Zwane Decision Discussed

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 2 hours ago

Ralph Staniforth 2 hours ago

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Siyanda Ndlovu called up for Bafana Bafana after impressive recent performances.
Aden McCarthy omitted due to competition in central defence.
Leaving Themba Zwane out was an emotional decision for Mosimane.

Pitso Mosimane made some big calls ahead of facing Kenya in two AFCON Qualifiers (Getty Images).

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has opened up on several key decisions behind his squad selection for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.
Pitso Explains Ndlovu Call-Up
Why Aden McCarthy Missed Out
Pitso Opens Up On Emotional Mshishi Decision

The coach has explained Siyanda Ndlovu's surprise inclusion, Aden McCarthy's omission and the difficult decision to leave veteran midfielder Themba Zwane out of the final squad.

Pitso Explains Ndlovu Call-Up

Mosimane has defended his decision to include Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda 'Skwishi' Ndlovu in the final Bafana squad despite the youngster not featuring in the preliminary list. The coach was impressed by his recent performances, including several Man of the Match awards.

Mosimane likened his playing style to that of Thapelo Maseko. "Deliberate player, a little bit of a duplicate to Thapelo Maseko," Mosimane said, adding that he likes wingers who go "inside one vs one, go behind and go past."

Why Aden McCarthy Missed Out

Mosimane has also explained why Sabah FK defender Aden McCarthy was overlooked for the final squad despite his impressive performances in Turkey and the UEFA Champions League.

The Bafana coach pointed to competition for places in central defence, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi returning to the squad and Olwethu Makhanya also earning selection following his good start at Rangers. "He's doing well, we all know that," Mosimane acknowledged, while adding that if Bafana had a friendly against Egypt, he would have called all the defenders.

Pitso Opens Up On Emotional Mshishi Decision

The Bafana coach has admitted that leaving Themba 'Mshishi' Zwane out of the final squad was an emotional decision, particularly because of the midfielder's influence within the team.

Mosimane revealed that Zwane has been more than just a player, often assisting him with advice about the squad and individual players. "Emotional, it was not an easy one, I had to drop Mshishi," he said, revealing that he personally called the Sundowns midfielder, who responded professionally and accepted the decision.

Ralph Staniforth is a South African sports journalist, editor and betting writer who has worked in sports media since 2012.

With a background in Sports Science, he has covered a wide range of sports and interviewed leading players and coaches across South African rugby, cricket and football.

His sports betting work covers both South African and international markets, combining his knowledge of sport with extensive experience analysing fixtures, teams, form and betting markets.

Ralph specialises in football and rugby, while also covering cricket, tennis and golf. His work includes match previews, betting tips, betting guides and broader analysis of the sports betting industry.

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