SAFA to be guided by Hugo Broos on Bafana Bafana’s squad size for AFCON

The AFCON tournament takes place in Morocco between the 21st of next month and the 18th of January next year. 

Two days ago, Monyepao attended an online Zoom meeting with all 23 qualified teams, during which key information was provided and this includes registering a maximum of 28 players, as Monyepao explains.

"We will be guided by coach Hugo on that. I think when he announces his squad he will tell us the number of players that he will be taking, at the moment I do not have an idea. I'm expecting 23 but he might want more but we are open to more if he wants to take more," Monyepao said.

CAF will pay for 23 players, with the federations covering the other five extra players, and there will also be 17 members of technical and support staff. Monyepao says they were also briefed on visa issues, training camps, team hotels, marketing, and medical regulations.

"Look, we've started, you know what needs to be done. We know that the team is gonna be in camp from the 8th of December, the coach will announce his team when the time is right and yes we were in the workshop yesterday, trying to understand what we can do from our side, what is expected of us as federations and we had the opportunity to also ask the different questions that we had,” the CEO added. 

“Clarity seeking questions so that we are all on the same page and we are really adequately prepared for December."

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Another thorny issue heading to the big tournament is players’ bonuses, and Monyepao has revealed that it’s a matter they have started handling with the leadership of Bafana Bafana players and will finalise before the camp starts.

"Yeah, we had conversations with the senior players in Bafana Bafana when they were in camp last time in Sandton. So, the talks have begun, everyone has laid their cards on the table, it's about getting approval for what they have proposed and what we have proposed at the same time. 

“We need to find each other but I can assure you that before the camp starts we will all be on the same page."