Sibisi Ruled Out of Must-Win Guinea Clash — But Mosimane Isn’t Panicking
Bafana Bafana’s defensive rock is out. It couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Pitso Mosimane has confirmed Nkosinathi Sibisi is doubtful for today’s must-win 2027 AFCON qualifier against Guinea. The match is at Orlando Amstel Arena at 3pm.
South Africa now braces to face one of the tournament’s most lethal attackers, Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy.
The Orlando Pirates skipper has anchored the Bafana backline for five years. He’s missed several training sessions after picking up a knock. The medical verdict isn’t good.
“Setback for Sibisi because he has an injury and he hasn’t been training the last few days,” Mosimane revealed. “He received a knock in training. So we are monitoring him. The doctor said he will miss this one.
“But injuries are part of national sports and football,” he added. “Hence we select enough numbers because we don’t know what we are going to face.”
Lebo Maboe is also unavailable. That’s another blow. But Mosimane insists his squad depth was built for exactly this.
“Thank God we selected enough,” he said. “We need to select as many as we can. That way we can absorb the hurdles with time, without panicking. So that’s what we have. So far, so good.”
Only one spot is up for grabs alongside hosts Kenya in Group D. Guinea is viewed as the group’s real danger, more than Eritrea. There’s zero margin for error.
Adding to the tension, opposite number Paulo Duarte is fighting for his job. He missed out on last year’s AFCON in Morocco. Mosimane says pressure comes with the territory. No coach is exempt, he insists.
Captain Ronwen Williams has already sounded the call to arms. He’s urging fans to pack Orlando Amstel Arena. Bafana need that crucial 12th-man advantage. Fans must also give new coach Mosimane the grand welcome he deserves.
