SEDIBENG.- Pitso Mosimane has stunned football fans by omitting young star Thapelo Maseko from his 27-man Bafana Bafana squad ahead of an upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on November 13.

Mosimane revealed his final selection on November 5, leaving out several players who featured heavily during Hugo Broos’s tenure.

The exclusion leaves Orlando Pirates forward Tshepang Moremi and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise forward Relebohile Mofokeng as the sole representatives from the Vaal.

Maseko’s absence is widely believed to stem from a hamstring injury that previously sidelined him for FC Copenhagen. His final appearance before the announcement came as a late substitute during a 2-1 defeat against FC Midtjylland in mid-October.

The exclusion leaves Orlando Pirates forward Tshepang Moremi and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise forward Relebohile Mofokeng as the sole representatives from the Vaal region in the national setup.

Sedibeng Ster Sport famously groups the trio as the Vaal triple ‘M’ due to their matching surnames.

Maseko enjoyed a standout campaign at the FIFA World Cup earlier in the year, scoring a historic goal to secure a 1-0 victory over South Korea and guide Bafana Bafana into the knockout stages for the first time.

Following the tournament, Mamelodi Sundowns allowed the winger to seek a new club after falling out of their tactical plans, forcing him to train independently before he secured a lucrative four-year contract in Denmark with FC Copenhagen.