Bafana Bafana fringe players tipped to start in final AFCON warm-up

Bafana are without several overseas-based players who will be meeting up with the squad in Morocco, and Broos revealed at the team's base in Pretoria that he will use the opportunity wisely.

With limited preparation time, the Belgian coach is expected to give game time to fringe players like Thabang Matuludi as he continues to evaluate his options ahead of their Group B opener against Angola in Marrakesh, Morocco, next Monday. 

"We'll play with maybe the team who will start AFCON and we could even make corrections if needed, but because they are not there, I think I can give the opportunity to players who haven't played or played much for Bafana Bafana until now," said Broos.

"I think, for example, Matuludi – I think we can give him a chance tomorrow to play with that team, and to adapt a little bit to the way of playing.

"So I said it's a training game, not a selection game, but on the other side I want to win it – so don't think we're taking the game for laughs tomorrow, and I will not let my players take it for laughs.

"We will play like we always play and try, like we always do, to win it, but again, sometimes you have to take the bad things for good and the good thing now is that because those players are not there, we can give some play time to other players."

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Against a locally-based Black Stars, who did not qualify for the continental tournament, the emphasis is on assessment and match fitness, says Broos.

"The game of tomorrow is more a training game than a selection game – first of all, I'm happy that we have a game, even if it's against a team that's not at its strongest," he added.

"But we have a game, and that is important, but on the other side I can leave some players out of the team because there are little niggles and I don't want to risk playing them and having more serious injuries, and maybe even miss the AFCON.

"So, again, there will be other players who we will give the opportunity to play and to adapt a little bit to the Bafana Bafana way of playing."