Bafana Bafana squad in numbers

Ephraim Shakes Mashaba coach of South Africa with Thulani Serero, Ayanda Patosi and May Mahlangu during South Africa afternoon training session on 11 June 2015 at Peoples Park Moses Mabhida Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

   SLBFootball takes a closer look at the statistics of Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba’s squad to face Cameroon in back-to-back 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

3 – The number of uncapped players named in the squad: Cheslyn Jampies, Sifiso Hlanti and Prince Nxumalo.


4 – The number of Bidvest Wits players in the squad, making them the best represented club. Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have three apiece.

8 – The number of players named in the squad who are based in Europe. The remaining 17 players are all on the books of PSL clubs in South Africa.

9 – The number of goals Tokelo Rantie has netted in his Bafana Bafana career, making him the leading scorer in the present squad.

19 – The age of defender Rivaldo Coetzee, the youngest player in the squad.

26.24 – The average age of this Bafana Bafana squad on the day it was named (March 10, 2016).

30 – The age of midfielder Hlompo Kekana, the oldest player in the squad.

70 – The current FIFA world ranking of South Africa – they are nine places behind Cameroon (61).

74 – The number of caps accumulated by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, the most experienced player in the squad.

406 – The total number of caps shared between the 25 members of the squad, at an average of 16.24 per player.

South Africa squad

Club/age/number of caps in parenthesis, correct as of 10/3/2016

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs/28/74), Jackson Mabokgwane (Black Aces/27/9), Dareen Keet (Kortrijk, Belgium/26/5)

Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapo (Bidvest Wits/27/9), Asavela Mbekile (Mamelodi Sundowns/29/3), Anele Ngcongca (Troyes, France/28/52), Thabo Matlaba (Orlando Pirates/28/24), Cheslyn Jampies (Jomo Cosmos/26/uncapped), Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs/26/25), Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits/25/uncapped), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town/19/15), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Bidvest Wits/26/21)

Midfielders: Andile Jali (KV Oostende, Belgium/25/34), Kamohelo Mokotjo (FC Twente, Netherlands/24/6), Thulani Serero (Ajax, Netherlands/25/28), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns/26/7), William Twala (Kaizer Chiefs/26/2), Jabulani Shongwe (Bidvest Wits/26/7), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates/29/3), Mandla Masango (Randers, Denmark/26/22), Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns/30/14)

Strikers: Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates/28/9), Prince Nxumalo (Ajax Cape Town/25/uncapped), Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth, England/25/33), Dino Ndlovu (Anorthosis, Cyprus/26/4)