Stuart Baxter, coach of South Africa (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Mathoho has been suspended after he was red-carded for a reckless tackle on an opponent in the Cape Verde game. And his selection for next month’s clash against Burkina Faso came as a surprise.
“Erick Mathoho has got a one-match ban, which will be reviewed by Fifa on the 28th [of September]. We’re selecting him because we think that it’s the correct thing to do,” explained Baxter.
“If at the time Fifa award him another game then we will bring in a replacement, but at the moment we’re selecting him in the squad.”
South Africa will play Burkina Faso in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium next month.