Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he prefers to stick to 23 players than take as many as 27 players to the upcoming AFCON.
According to CAF Teams can take up to 27 players to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast but the South Africa Coach decided to take 23 Instead.
“First of all 27 or 23, it’s a matter of budget,” Broos said.
“Secondly, I am not in favour of taking 27 players [to the tournament] to put four players in the stands every game.
“I don’t think it’s good mentally for the players. You take 27 players and you have more choices but I have enough choices from the 23. I don’t see why I should take four more players to the Afcon. Players also know that when you go with 27, he is number 25 or 26 and he will never play, never.
“So, why should I take 27 players? I don’t see what could be an advantage for me or the team. I took 23 with Cameroon and even then, there were three or four players who didn’t even feature for one minute.”
South Africa is in Group E alongside Mali, Tunisia, and Namibia and will play their first game against Mali.
