Africa-Press – Gambia. The biennial continental competition kicks off on January 9 and GOAL takes a look at the South Africa-based players who will grace the tournament
Bafana Bafana are not at the Africa Cup of Nations but a total of 15 Premier Soccer League players will be at Afcon in Cameroon.
The top-flight league has provided eight players while the National First Division has seven.Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have contributed a player each, both in the Nigeria squad in goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and defender Olisa Ndah.
Omissions like Pirates forward Terrence Dzvukamanja by Zimbabwe as well as his compatriot Knox Mutizwa of Golden Arrows are notable.
Zimbabwe and Malawi have the most players at the tournament with five each but the former could not convince Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat to come out of retirement, while Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori failed to recover in time to make the Ghana squad.
AmaZulu midfielder Matarr Ceesay was not selected by Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet.
Interestingly, five PSL goalkeepers will be in Cameroon.Zimbabwe
Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars/NFD), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars/NFD), Kudakwashe Mahachi, Onismor Bhasera (both SuperSport United/Premiership), Gerald Takwara (Venda Football Academy/NFD)
Traditionally, PSL players dominate the Zimbabwean squad since their first appearance at Afcon in 2004 and the trend continues.
JDR Stars midfielder Temptation Chiwunga did not travel to Cameroon but is one of the three players on standby.Malawi
Frank Mhango (Orlando Pirates/Premiership), Dennis Chembezi (Polokwane City/NFD), Limbikani Mzava (AmaZulu/Premiership), Khuda Muyaba (Polokwane City/NFD), Richard Mbuli (Baroka/Premiership)
The Flames squad is headlined by Mhango who will be keen to forget his struggles at Pirates and shine in national team colours.
Malawi will be making a third appearance at Afcon and all players in their squad will be debutants at the finals.Nigeria
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs/Premiership), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates/Premiership)
It will be Ndah’s first Afcon tournament while Chiefs goalkeeper Akpeyi will be battling for the number one spot against Netherlands-based Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and John Noble.Ivory Coast
Badra Ali Sangare (JDR Stars/NFD)
This will be Sangare’s fourth Afcon final but interestingly, he has never played a single minute at the tournament, having always been a back-up goalkeeper.
With long-time number one Sylvain Gbohouo currently serving a doping ban, Sangare stands a high chance of finally playing this time around.Gabon
Jean-Noel Amonome (AmaZulu/Premiership)
Another PSL goalkeeper at Afcon is the 24-year-old goalkeeper.
Amonome has not played a single match for Usuthu this season but took part in Gabon’s last three 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying games.Gambia
Modou Jobe (Black Leopards/NFD)
Despite limited appearances for Black Leopards this season and conceding nine goals in seven appearances, Jobe has still retained the faith of Saintfiet.
The 33-year-old has managed just one clean sheet in those seven games he has featured in for Leopards.
He has been with the Gabon national team since 2014.
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