Head coach Hugo Broos has explained the absence of standby-players that include Kaizer Chiefs' Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Orlando Pirates' Tapelo Xoli from the Bafana Bafana camp.
Having named four players on standby in Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Elias Mokwana, Tapelo Xoki and recently Iqraam Rayners, Broos opted against having the players at the Bafana camp currently underway in Stellenbosch.
READ | 'I believe in this team' - Broos defends Bafana selection
Speaking to SAFA media about the decision., the Belgian revealed that it was a mistake he had made while caching Cameroon.
"You know I think it's better for players who are not happy if after fours [of camp with Bafana] I have to tell them that ' okay guys, I'm sorry, but I will go with this 23,'.
"So, they know that they have to be ready for that, and if there is nothing happening now his camp (injury wise) okay then I don't need them or [in case] there should be a big accident or injury with a player that we will call someone else.
"But I did it in Cameroon, we started with 28 players and it's not easy to tell somebody that you're not going with us [to AFCON]. [They ask] 'yeah why? yeah, why?'. It could be different reasons so I didn't want that to happen again.
"So those 23 players are there and let's hope that nothing happens there's something I know that they kept three guys who are still there.
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Bafana will kick off their AFCON title ambitions with a Group E clash against Mali on 16 January before meeting Namibia on 21 January and wrapping up the group stage action against Tunisia on 24 January.
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