South Africa host Kenya at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 13 November at 18:00, before the return game in Nairobi on Tuesday, 17 November. The two games give the tie an extra edge, with former Bafana striker Benni McCarthy now in charge of the Harambee Stars.
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Bafana top Group D with six points from two games, after beating Guinea 2-1 in Johannesburg and Eritrea 5-0. But the group is tighter than it looks. Kenya have already qualified as one of the tournament’s three co-hosts, so South Africa and Guinea are effectively fighting for one place.
Mosimane cut his provisional list of 38 down to 27, and Mamelodi Sundowns provide 11 players, the most of any club. Orlando Pirates have six in the squad, including Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis, who have both been key for the Soweto side this season.
Teboho Mokoena is included despite the knee ligament problem that forced him off in the CAF Champions League last month. Thalente Mbatha returns after regaining fitness.
The biggest surprise is Sundowns forward Siyanda Ndlovu, who wasn’t on the provisional list. Thakasani Mbanjwa, Themba Zwane, Luke le Roux, Boitumelo Radiopane and Aden McCarthy are among those who miss out.
Thirteen of the 27 play abroad. They include Lyle Foster, Relebohile Mofokeng, Olwethu Makhanya and Samukele Kabini, along with Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane at Chicago Fire.
Bafana come into the games in good shape. They beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo in a friendly and are ranked 48th in the world, their highest ranking since 2011.
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Photo: Julian Finney – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
