Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has called up Sipho Mbule as a replacement for injured Orlando Pirates teammate Patrick Maswanganyi.
South Africa boss Broos recently named his final squad to play Lesotho and Nigeria in the upcoming World Cup Group C qualifiers this month.
Maswanganyi was all set to take his place in the Bafana team ahead of the injured Themba Zwane, but he has been withdrawn from the team with an injury he picked up in the 3-0 Betway Premiership win over Chippa United on Sunday.
Broos has also been forced to replace injured Hanover defender Ime Okon with Stellenbosch’s Thabo Moloisane.
Broos confirmed the news in the Citizen: “Today we had to tell Maswanganyi to go home after his injury yesterday.
“There is no guarantee ‘Tito’ will be ready for the game on Friday. When you can’t count on a player for two or maybe three days, the decision is right.”
Broos added that he called up Mbule as a replacement for Maswanganyi because of his experience.
“I think everyone agrees that Mbule is a player who has many qualities. In the past years, maybe we didn’t see what we expected, but he is an experienced player who can play in that position,” he head coach explained.
Bafana currently top Group C with 13 points from six games, five clear of second-placed Rwanda and Benin in third. Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the World Cup finals.