Peter Shalulile of Sundowns is at AFCON: Image via Facebook @ PSL
How the PSL has doubled its flavour at AFCON
With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals on the bend in Ivory Coast, we look at the PSL’s contribution to the 34th edition.
Peter Shalulile of Sundowns is at AFCON: Image via Facebook @ PSL
The PSL will add more flavour to the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 finals. This is the case as the PSL has doubled the number of ‘its’ players at the tournament in Ivory Coast.
Why the PSL has contributed more players to the Ivory Coast edition
The biennial competition was scheduled to take place last year in Ivory Coast. However, it was shifted to this year due to a clash of programmes. With the tournament kicking off on January 13, 2024, The South African has, through its calculations, established that the PSL has contributed 38 players to the event. The number of the PSL players has increased from the 16 who graced the previous AFCON 2021 held in Cameroon. The jump can partly be attributed to Bafana Bafana’s return to the competition. South Africa had failed to qualify for the 2021 tournament. Now, Bafana Bafana are back.
The breakdown of PSL’s players at AFCON in Ivory Coast
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The 1996 AFCON champions are in Group E and will slug it out against Tunisia, Mali and neighbours Namibia in Ivory Coast. Coach Hugo Broos has since released his final 23-member squad for the AFCON finals. The list has 21 stars drawn from the DStv Premiership and the Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs. Additionally, 17 foreigners who play for South African clubs will represent their respective national teams at the AFCON 2023.
Who else is at Afcon with the PSL connection?
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Namibia’s squad comprises nine footballers from the PSL, including Mamelodi Sundowns forward Peter Shalulile. Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia have sent one PSL-based player each whereas Tanzania will travel with two footballers who ply their trade in Mzansi.
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This translates to 38 players from the PSL gracing the AFCON 2023. Overall, there are some 552 players at the competition in Ivory Coast. The competition will run from January 13 to February 11 2024.
PSL-based stars at AFCON:
Ivory Coast: Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United)
Zambia: Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United)
Nigeria: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United)
Ghana: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates)
Tanzania: Abdi Banda (Richards Bay), Baraka Majogoro (Chippa United).
Mozambique: Edmilson Dove (Kaizer Chiefs)
Equatorial Guinea: Manuel Sapunga (Polokwane City)
Namibia: Loydt Kazapua (Chippa United), Edward Maova (Pretoria Callies), Ananias Gebhardt (Baroka FC), Riaan Hanamub (AmaZulu), Lubeni Haukongo (Cape Town Spurs), Joslin Kamatuka (Maritzburg United), Deon Hotto (Orlando Pirates), Bethuel Muzeu (Black Leopards), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns).
