JOHANNESBURG - The Bafana Bafana set-up are crossing their fingers that they will not be dealt another injury blow – a crucial one at that – with striker Katlego Mphela limping out of training with a knee injury yesterday morning.

Mphela, Bafana’s third highest scorer of all time, is an integral part of the team ahead of their Group G 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers penultimate match against Niger in Niamey on Sunday – a match that could see the South Africans secure qualification for the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon tournament next January.

“Mphela will undergo further assessments, he only limped off this morning and further updates will follow,” said doctor Ephraim Nematswerani.

“It’s with his right knee injury, and we are crossing our fingers because we can’t afford any more injuries.

“We should know later    if he will be okay but as precaution we informed the coaches that he should not undertake afternoon training and even tomorrow.

“We are very thin already and can’t afford to lose any more players.”

On Tuesday evening, winger Tlou Segolela (knee) and goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs (shoulder) were deemed not fit enough to continue camp and withdrawn from the squad, with Ajax Cape Town’s Sean Roberts the inclusion for Josephs.

Roberts answered the urgent call from coach Pitso Mosimane who wants another understudy for Itumeleng Khune and Wayne Sandilands, and has already reported for the camp in Rustenburg.

Midfielders, Teko Modise and Oupa Manyisa were linked with the team on Sunday after weekend club duties with ankle ailments but were deemed fit to continue.

Ahead of naming his initial 24-man squad for the expected hostile conditions in the West African state, Mosimane was set to be without a number of his experienced core players because of an assortment of injuries.

Out of selection contention were captain Steven Pienaar, strongman Kagiso Dikgacoi, languid striker Davide Somma and busy midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
 
Bafana depart for Niger tomorrow.