Lyle Foster is back in the Bafana squad, but Pitso Mosimane wants him to earn his place.

The coach has recalled the Houston Dynamo striker for the 2027 AFCON qualifying double-header against Kenya, and he has made clear that past glory will not guarantee a start.

“Yesterday’s price is not today’s price,” Mosimane said. “I just want to give him the opportunity to be part of the national team. It is not up to me, it’s up to him now.”

Foster missed Mosimane’s first camp in September, and the two have since talked. The coach refused to say what was discussed.

“We’ve had private conversations which I cannot reveal because that space between a player and a coach is sacred. We need to build trust and confidence between me and the players.”

Mosimane admitted the 26-year-old has recently returned to starting action but is not yet back to his best.

“Foster is playing, and he has started games recently, but honestly he still has to catch up to get back to his peak level,” he said. “Let’s see if his appetite is there because we all know he is a very good striker.”

Under Hugo Broos, Foster became a key figure, scoring 11 goals in 33 international appearances and contributing twice in South Africa’s successful 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

He has said he wants to beat Benni McCarthy’s record of 31 goals as Bafana’s top scorer. McCarthy, now Kenya’s coach, will be on the opposite touchline for both games.

Bafana host Kenya at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 13 November, then travel to Nairobi for the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November.

Mosimane is also monitoring several players who arrived at camp injured, and the medical team is assessing their availability.

For Foster, the message is simple: the door is open, but he has to walk through it himself.

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