Coach Piso Mosimane explained why forward Lyle Foster was not included in the initial squad of the Bafana national team after his return to the head coach position. The reason cited was the lack of regular playing time for the forward.
The Bafana national team will begin its qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 26. Following that, the team will play Eritrea in Egypt on September 30. After this, they will remain in Egypt for a friendly match against the hosts on October 4, which will give Mosimane an opportunity to assess his squad and begin shaping the team over three matches.
Among the 30 players in the squad, Foster is a notable exception, having recently moved from Burnley to Houston Dynamo on loan until June 2027. Mosimane stated that he spoke with Foster personally before deciding not to include him in the upcoming games.
The coach said: 'I spoke with him personally; he wasn't playing, he wasn't on the player list, and he didn't participate in any friendly matches, only appeared occasionally, and he moved (to a new team too). The last time we saw him play was in Mexico.'
Foster's move to Houston allows the forward to regain regular playing time after difficulties with consistent participation at Burnley. However, for Mosimane, the priority is having players who are actively playing and can immediately contribute during the international window.
Furthermore, the coach introduced several young players into the squad, including Puso Ditjane and Shandre Campbell, who received their first call-ups under the returning coach. Mosimane is particularly interested in how the young players will react to the opportunity to join a team that includes many players who represented South Africa at the 2026 World Cup.
Ditjane gained recognition for his performances with Chicago Fire, while Campbell continues to develop in Belgium with KV Kortrijk. Their inclusion reflects Mosimane's desire to integrate young footballers while maintaining a core of experienced Bafana international players. The upcoming matches will provide young players with an early chance to impress, while Foster will use his move to MLS to regain form and re-enter Mosimane's plans.