The South African Football Association has named a 30-man provisional squad for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The team is coached by Duncan Crowie who invited 30 names into a preparation camp from 9 April before he will make his final U17 AFCON squad announcement on 15 April.
The U17 AFCON will be held in Algeria between 29 April and 19 May, with South Africa being drawn alongside Nigeria, Morocco and Zambia in what many would consider a Group of Death.
The squad is certainly brimming with talent, and a player like SuperSport United’s Neo Rapoo has even got first team experience already despite his tender age. He has featured in five games in all competitions under Gavin Hunt this season.
Crowie included eight overseas-based players into his camp, including Gabriano Shelton, who plays for Liverpool’s academy, while 22 are locally-based.
| # | NAMES | Club – Country |
| GOALKEEPERS | ||
| 1 | Takalani Mzhawana | Kaizer Chiefs – RSA |
| 2 | Gennaro Johnson | Cape Town Spurs – RSA |
| 3 | Kyle Jansen | Atlanta United – USA |
| DEFENDERS | ||
| 4 | Xhosa Manyana | Cape Town City – RSA |
| 5 | Gabriano Shelton | Liverpool – ENGLAND |
| 6 | Keitumetsi Lesia | SuperSport United – RSA |
| 7 | Waylon Renecke | Norwich – ENGLAND |
| 8 | Benjamin Wallace | SuperSport United – RSA |
| 9 | Bonginkosi Phala | Getafe, SPAIN |
| 10 | Vincent Sithole | Mamelodi Sundowns – RSA |
| 11 | Tyler Cecero | Stellenbosch – RSA |
| 12 | Neo Rapoo | SuperSport United – RSA |
| 13 | Thato Sibiya | Mamelodi Sundowns – RSA |
| MIDFIELDERS | ||
| 14 | Xolani Tshaka | Orlando Pirates – RSA |
| 15 | Sfiso Timba | Kaizer Chiefs – RSA |
| 16 | Gomolemo Kekana | TS Galaxy – RSA |
| 17 | Vicky Mkhawana | Kaizer Chiefs – RSA |
| 18 | Aphelele Mkhize | Maritzburg United – RSA |
| 19 | Xavier Jodamus | Ubuntu Academy – RSA |
| 20 | Thuto Mojanang | Feyenoord – HOLLAND |
| 21 | Dhakier Lee | Cape Town Spurs – RSA |
| FORWARDS | ||
| 22 | Michael Dokumnu | Vitesse – HOLLAND |
| 23 | Orifha Bright Naubelo | Capital City – RSA |
| 24 | Bennet Mokoena | Mamelodi Sundowns -RSA |
| 25 | Aaron Sloch Rydell | Nordsjaelland – Denmark |
| 26 | Gabriel Amato | Cape Town City – RSA |
| 27 | Lucas Jetten | Ajax Amsterdam – HOLLAND |
| 28 | Tyrese Davids | SuperSport United – RSA |
| 29 | Ofentse Kgosana | Kaizer Chiefs – RSA |
| 30 | Siyabonga Mabena | Mamelodi Sundowns – RSA |
