Mashaba faces many posers for Nations Cup qualifier

South African national team coach Ephraim Mashaba
South African national team coach Ephraim Mashaba
Myriad injuries‚ lack of match fitness and several players without clubs will be clouding South African national team coach Ephraim Mashaba’s thinking before he names his squad later this week for the African Nations Cup qualifier in Mauritania next month.Of the 27 players called up in June for the last Nations Cup qualifier against the Gambia‚ 10 have not yet played since the end of last season‚ including several key components of Mashaba’s team‚ leaving the coach with some tough decisions ahead.

Playmaker Thulani Serero has had an ankle complaint that dogged him through the pre-season and left him out of action for Ajax Amsterdam‚ who have also told the diminutive midfielder that he is being considered for a loan move before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

It leaves Serero’s career at something of a crossroads.

Mandla Masango‚ a favourite of Mashaba’s‚ has just signed for Randers in Denmark but is yet to play since leaving Kaizer Chiefs‚ while May Mahlangu is without a club since departing Konyaspor of Turkey.

Skipper Dean Furman has also not found a new club — although he might be confirmed as a new SuperSport United signing by the time Mashaba announces his squad at a Johannesburg press conference on Thursday.

South Africa play away against Mauritania in Nouakchott on Saturday‚ September 5 seeking their first win of the qualifying campaign for the 2017 finals in Gabon after a disappointing home draw with the Gambians in Durban in June.

Tokelo Rantie‚ who was originally called up for the last two internationals but went on honeymoon instead‚ has yet to make a premier league debut for Bournemouth while Gift Motupa has had no game time at new club Orlando Pirates‚ Vuyisile Wana has not yet debuted for new club Bloemfontein Celtic and Siphelele Ntshangase is still at Black Leopards in the National First Division and they only get their season underway at the weekend. That is also the case with fullback Marc van Heerden of AmaZulu

Mashaba will also have to consider the selection of Anele Ngcongca‚ who has lost his place in the starting line-up at Racing Genk in Belgium and played just four minutes so far this campaign.

Thabo Matlaba’s hamstring injury is also a concern for Mashaba‚ who will be looking for some good news against Mauritania with the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers lying ahead in November against Angola.

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