Senong name final Amajita squad for Afcon
South Africa’s Under-20 coach Thabo Senong on Wednesday announced a 21-man squad that will travel to Niger ahead of the Caf 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Amajita coach Thabo Senong (Sydney Mahlangu /BackpagePix)
The Amajita coach kept the bulk of his squad which retained their 2018 Cosafa Under-20 Championship title in Kitwe, Zambia.
Portugal-based midfielder Kobamelo Kodisang of AD Sanjoanense, AmaZulu defender Sibusiso Mabiliso, and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Thabo Moloisane return to the national set-up after missing out on last year’s Southern regional football tournament.
New faces in Senong’s squad include Bidvest Wits defender Keenan Phillips, Real Kings midfielder Luvuyo Phewa, TS Sporting’s Simphiwe Ncamani, AmaZulu forward Bayanda Shangase, and Leicester City midfielder Khanya Leshabela.
Senong said he had a tough time selecting from the 28 players who reported for his provisional squad.
Amajita will travel to Niger later on Wednesday following their final practice match against ABC Motsepe League side Dube Continental FC at the Nike Football Training Centre.
“We worked with a very talented group which made it really difficult for us to come up with the final 21-man squad that is to represent the country in Niger,” Senong said. “It is every player’s dream to represent their nation at the highest level and [it] is quite unfortunate that we could not take all of them.
“I believe we have selected a balanced squad that will represent the nation well in the upcoming Afcon Under-20 tournament.”
Amajita are in Group A alongside hosts Niger, Burundi, and Nigeria in this year’s biennial junior continental showpiece.
A top-four finish will see Amajita qualifying for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup for the second successive time after they progressed to the 2017 edition in South Korea.
SA Under-20 squad:
Goalkeepers: Glen Baadjies, Khulekani Kubheka, Kopano Thuntsane
Defenders: Njabulo Blom, Keenan Abrahams, Givemore Khupe, Sbusiso Mabiliso, Fezile Gcaba, Brendon Thabo Moloisane, Keenan Phillips
Midfielders: Siphesihle Mkhize, Luke Le Roux, Kobamelo Kodisang, Promise Mkhuma, Simphiwe Ncamani, Khanya Leshabela
Strikers: James Thabiso Monyane, Malebogo Modise, Bayanda Shangase
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
