Bafana Bafana have qualified for the 2025 finals in Morocco, which will be played from 21 December-18 January.
Burnley’s Lyle Foster was not available in Ivory Coast, so they went into the tournament with essentially only Evidence Evidence Makgopa and Percy Tau as striking options, and the latter is more of a winger.
Tau’s international career looks over as he now plays in the Vietnamese league, out of the spotlight, so it begs the question: who should go to Morocco in coach Hugo Broos’ squad this time around?
Here are the contenders, with past experience suggesting Broos will take a maximum of three of these forwards, but likely only two.
Lyle Foster
Caps/goals: 23/8
Club: Burnley
The best option as a ‘number nine’ style striker, but a player who can blow hot and cold for the national team. When fully engaged, he is a powerful player with good finishing ability in the box. But he appeared to take the criticism he received in the wake of this month’s 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe to heart, speaking about it afterwards, and missed the subsequent game against Rwanda with injury. That he then started for Burnley in the Premier League four days later meant whatever was ailing him cleared quickly.
Evidence Makgopa
Caps/goals: 21/5
Club: Orlando Pirates
A rangy forward who is never going to be prolific in front of goal but holds up the ball well and brings others into the game. He works hard and runs the channels, and Broos clearly likes him for his particular characteristics. Is it enough to take you to an AFCON winners’ medal, though? Probably not …
Iqraam Rayners
Caps/goals: 19/5
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
His game is more about pace and poaching ability in the box, though he still feels like a raw talent who can miss chances he should finish. But his bustling style gives Bafana Bafana another dimension, not unlike what Tokelo Rantie used to offer. He should be on the flight to Morocco, but whether he starts in the big games is another question.
Bradley Grobler
Caps/goals: 12/2
Club: Sekhukhune United
This feels like a long shot given he is 37 years of age, but Grobler is arguably the best finisher among the strikers mentioned and has been in good form in the PSL this season with nine goals in 11 starts. However, he is most dangerous in and around the six-yard box and perhaps does not have the stamina anymore to be charging up and down the pitch. But if Broos is looking for a ‘fox in the box’, this is his man.
Tshegofatso Mabasa
Caps/goals: 7/3
Club: Orlando Pirates
Mabasa’s PSL goalscoring record should put him in the frame, but Broos does not rate his coachability, and that will count against him. Early in Broos’ tenure, he selected Mabasa for a World Cup qualifier in Ethiopia but pulled him off after just 34 minutes for tactical reasons, saying the striker had not followed instructions. He has not picked him since and often stresses the importance of players following tactical guidance. It is unlikely he will go to Morocco.
