Nigerian-born defender Ime Okon has been included in South Africa’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Head coach Hugo Broos selected 54 players in the squad, which he will later cut to 24.
Okon, 21, was born to a Nigerian father and South African mother.
The centre-back has made five appearances for Bafana Bafana.
Broos picked 13 players from Orlando Pirates, who were semi-finalists in the CAF Champions League last season, and 10 from Mamelodi Sundowns, who were runners-up in the same competition, as home-based players dominated the selection.
The South African Football Association said the final squad would be named “in the coming days”, well ahead of the December 11 deadline for all 24 finalists to name their selections for the tournament.
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Themba Zwane was included in the preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations even though the 36-year-old has been out through injury since September.
Zwane, who spent most of last season out with a knee injury, was hurt in mid-September again, suffering another knee injury. But he was a crucial player for South Africa when they reached the semi-finals of the last Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
There are 12 foreign-based players in the squad.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Darren Johnson (AmaZulu), Renaldo Leaner (Sekhukhune United), Brandon Petersen (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Keegan Allan (AmaZulu), Fawaaz Basadien (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Samukelo Kabini (Molde, Norway), Malingonwe Khoza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch), Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Thapelo Morena, Khuliso Mudau (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Fezile Ngacaba (Durban City), Siyabonga Ngezana (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers, England)
Midfielders: Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Luke le Roux (Portsmouth, England), Siphesihle Maduna (TS Galaxy), Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City), Thalenthe Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Siphesihle Mkhize (Sekhukhune United), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mthetheleli Mthinyane (Stellenbosch), Masindi Nemtajela (Orlando Pirates), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal)
Forwards: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge, Belgium), Ashley Cupido (Stellenbosch), Puso Dithejane (TS Galaxy), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United, USA), Keletso Makgalwa (Sekhukhune United), Evidence Makgopa, Patrick Maswanaganyi (both Orlando Pirates), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem, Saudi Arabia), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Mduduzi Shabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns).
1 Comment
Serious countries are already releasing the preliminary AFCON lists.
NFF and Chelle are still rolling the dice on Nigeria’s list under a shadow of secrecy, even the CIA will be envious of.
That nonsense started the day Egavoen became the TD of NFF. The list of invites to the national teams started becoming “Top Secret”.
The next thing we will hear a few days to the commencement of AFCON will be the final 25 man list without any training camps, just like Egavoen did with the 2022 AFCON squad list.