Menzi Magubane
Bafana Bafana are putting the final touches on their preparations as they get ready to play Ghana at FNB Stadium at 6pm on Thursday in their Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifier.
Midfielder Bongani Zungu will miss the match due to Scottish travel restrictions. His team, Rangers did not release him after FIFA allowed clubs to refuse to release players for national team call-ups.
“I won’t be able to travel to South Africa to represent my country. I wish the boys the best of luck,” said Zungu on his Twitter page.
The good news is that Zungu, the former Mamelodi Sundowns man will be available for the last Group C match against Sudan in Khartoum on Sunday.
“Zungu is confirmed,” said Bafana team doctor Thulani Ngwenya.
He said Thulani Serero and Dean Furman are also confirmed.
Speaking to TimesLive about Keagan Dolly, Ngwenya said: “We are still hoping and there are negotiations happening.”
Ngwenya said they will try to get the French authorities to release the Montpellier winger for the game in Khartoum.
Bafana are not the only team that has suffered from the FIFA ruling. Ghana will also be without their overseas based players.
Notable names that will be absent for them are captain Andre Ayew of Swansea City and his brother Jordan of Crystal Palace. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is also unavailable against Bafana.
Bafana last played the Black Stars in November 2019 in the first leg of the group in Ghana.
Ghana won that match 2-0 and Bafana would love to avenge themselves on Thursday and go to the top of the group and be a step closer to qualifying for Cameroon next year.
Picture source: @paybet
