Bafana Bafana Lose Teboho Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba for Eritrea AFCON Qualifier
- Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane confirmed both Mamelodi Sundowns players sustained injuries during the Guinea victory
- Scans ruled out both players for Wednesday's 2027 AFCON qualifier against Eritrea at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo
- Mosimane also cast doubt over the pair's availability for Sunday's friendly against Egypt, citing doctors' assessment
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Bafana Bafana will be without two of their key midfield players for Wednesday's 2027 AFCON qualifier against Eritrea after scans confirmed injuries to Teboho Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba, coach Pitso Mosimane announced on 29 September 2026.
The Mamelodi Sundowns pair both started South Africa's opening qualifier, a 2-1 win over Guinea in Johannesburg on Saturday, but according to FarPost, neither has taken part in a single training session since the squad arrived in Cairo.
What happened to Modiba and Mokoena?
Modiba was forced off the pitch during the second half of the Guinea match after picking up his injury during play. Mokoena, meanwhile, continued through visible discomfort in the closing minutes to help his side hold on for the result, with Mosimane having already used his full allocation of substitutions.
"Mokoena was pulling that leg with a few minutes to go, and he gave us everything to finish the game," Mosimane said.
"Aubrey is not available; Teboho is not available. They haven't trained since we came. The doctor took them for scans, and the scans, in a nutshell, showed that they are injured, and we can't use them."
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Mosimane Weighs Replacements for Eritrea Clash
With two established internationals sidelined, Mosimane is expected to make adjustments across his starting line-up. At left-back, Samukele Kabini, who netted Bafana's second goal against Guinea, is likely to replace Modiba. In central midfield, Bathusi Aubaas and Sphephelo Sithole could partner each other, with Relebohile Mofokeng operating in an advanced position in front of them.
Mosimane acknowledged the difficulty of losing players who had contributed directly to the team's positive opening to the campaign.
Both players are remaining with the squad while undergoing treatment, and Mosimane expressed optimism about their recovery, though he stopped short of providing a specific return date. He did confirm, however, that their prospects of featuring in Sunday's friendly against Egypt are slim, based on medical advice.
Wednesday's qualifier against Eritrea kicks off at 6 PM South African time at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo.
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Source: Briefly News
