Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has confirmed that no players from Mamelodi Sundowns will be released early from national team duty despite already securing qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Broos and his men secured their AFCON ticket without kicking a ball on Thursday after South Sudan beat Congo Brazzaville at home.
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They also did their part on the pitch, beating then-log leaders Uganda in Kampala on Friday to overtake the Cranes in Group K.
With Sundowns having the Carling Knockout final on Saturday, Broos was asked whether he was approached by Masandawana to release their players early, but he insisted there will be no such thing.
“Sundowns players are till tomorrow after the game players of Bafana Bafana and they stay players of Bafana Bafana,” he told journalists in Cape Town, without confirming whether or not he was indeed approached by the club.
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Broos also insisted that Tuesday’s game is a very important one for him and his side, as they want to finish the qualifiers on top of the group and give a big crowd in Cape Town a performance to cheer for.
“I think you are looking to two very happy men after a qualifying game against Uganda last Friday,” he added.
“At the other end, you are also looking at two men who are still not satisfied – not satisfied because we want to win the game of tomorrow. This is not a friendly game for us.
“It’s an important game because we want to be first in the group, and we also want to show something, if my information is right to the crowd who will be tomorrow in the stadium.
“So, we got two amazing evenings in Bloemfontein and in PE with a crowd in the stadium and with a nice win. So, we will do that again tomorrow here in Cape Town.
“That means that we are still motivated for the game of tomorrow, and again, it’s very important for us that we can finalise those qualifiers as first in the group.
“It should be the cherry on the top, like people say.”
Bafana take on South Sudan at DHL Stadium at 18:00 on Tuesday.
