Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed that defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has been ruled out of their 2027 AFCON qualifier against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday due to injury.
Sibisi was included in the 30-member squad Mosimane named for his first match back in charge. Having stressed during his media briefing that he would lean on the core foundation laid by predecessor Hugo Broos, expectations were that Sibisi would start in defence against the Syli National.
However, Sibisi’s setback leaves Bafana further depleted at central defence. The squad is already missing key personnel from their World Cup campaign, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi having also been ruled out of the camp through injury.
Remaining central defender Ime Okon will not be left isolated, though. Mosimane remains confident that the squad boasts sufficient defensive depth, pointing to an exciting, youthful contingent that includes Olwethu Makhanya, who has been in fine form for Rangers.
“He hasn’t trained in the last two days. He sustained a knock at training,” Mosimane said of Sibisi. “The doctor says he’ll miss this one. Injuries are part of professional sport. That’s why we select a lot of numbers. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Sibisi is the second Bafana player to be ruled out through injury since the group assembled, following Lebohang Maboe’s ankle injury in the opening training session. Maboe has since been replaced by Tshepang Moremi.
A defensively sound performance will be vital to ensure Bafana do not start Mosimane’s second tenure with a slip-up at Orlando Stadium, where a strong crowd is expected for the long-weekend clash.
