Bafana Bafana Suffer Double Injury Blow as Pitso Mosimane Confirms Mokoena and Modiba Will Miss Eritrea Clash

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed a double injury blow ahead of South Africa’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea. Mamelodi Sundowns duo Teboho Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba have both been ruled out of the Group D encounter after sustaining injuries during the 2-1 victory over Guinea. The two players have not trained since arriving in Egypt, with medical scans confirming that their respective injuries will prevent them from featuring against Eritrea. Their absence gives Mosimane an immediate selection challenge as South Africa prepare for another important qualification fixture. Despite the setbacks, the Bafana Bafana coach has options available as he looks to maintain the team’s winning start.

South Africa opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the Orlando Amstel Arena. The result gave Bafana Bafana three valuable points and provided the team with an encouraging start to the Group D campaign. However, the victory came at a cost after Mokoena and Modiba both picked up injuries during the match. Their subsequent absence from training raised concerns over their availability for the trip to Egypt. Mosimane has now confirmed that neither player will be able to take part in the encounter against Eritrea.

Mokoena’s injury is particularly significant because of his importance in the Bafana Bafana midfield. The midfielder has established himself as an influential figure in the national team and provides defensive protection, physical strength and composure in the centre of the pitch. Mosimane revealed that Mokoena was already struggling toward the end of the Guinea match but continued playing for the team. The coach explained that the player was pulling at his leg during the closing stages but continued to give everything he had. Medical assessments have since determined that the injury is serious enough to rule him out of the Eritrea fixture.

“Mokoena was pulling that leg with a few minutes to go, and he gave us everything,” Mosimane said when discussing the midfielder’s condition. The coach then confirmed that Mokoena and Modiba were not available for selection against Eritrea. Neither player had trained since the team arrived in Egypt, which meant there was limited opportunity for either to demonstrate that they had recovered sufficiently to participate. The medical team subsequently sent both players for scans to determine the extent of their injuries. Mosimane said the results made it clear that Bafana Bafana could not use either player for the upcoming qualifier.

Modiba’s absence creates a separate challenge because of his role at left-back. The Mamelodi Sundowns defender provides experience and balance in the defensive structure and has become an established option for the national team. Losing him after the opening qualifier means Mosimane must make a change to his defensive lineup for the Eritrea match. The coach does, however, have alternatives within the squad. Samukele Kabini and Fawaaz Basadien are among the players who can potentially fill the position and give Bafana Bafana defensive stability.

Kabini could enter the lineup after making an important contribution against Guinea. The defender was one of the players who found the net in South Africa’s opening qualifying victory, adding an attacking contribution from the back. His ability to operate in a defensive role while also offering an attacking threat could make him a useful option for Mosimane. Basadien also provides another possibility at left-back and has experience playing in that position. The final decision will depend on the tactical approach Mosimane wants to use against an Eritrean side that will be determined to make the most of its home designation.

Mokoena’s replacement presents another tactical decision in the centre of midfield. Mosimane has identified Bathusi Aubaas and Sphephelo Sithole as options who can provide the necessary cover. Both players give the coach alternatives as he looks to maintain the balance of the midfield without one of its key figures. The replacement will need to help South Africa control possession while also protecting the defence when Eritrea attempt to move forward. The change could alter the way Bafana Bafana approach the match, but it does not leave Mosimane without experienced options.

The timing of the injuries makes the situation more challenging because South Africa face Eritrea only days after the Guinea match. There has been little time for Mosimane to make significant changes to his plans before the second qualifier. The squad has already travelled to Egypt and established its training camp ahead of the encounter at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo. With Mokoena and Modiba unavailable, the remaining players must adapt quickly to any changes in roles and responsibilities. Mosimane will also need to ensure that the replacements understand their tactical duties before the opening whistle.

The Eritrea fixture carries importance because Bafana Bafana want to build on their winning start to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. South Africa collected three points against Guinea and will now attempt to add another positive result to their Group D record. Eritrea also began their campaign with a result after drawing 1-1 with Kenya. That outcome means South Africa cannot afford to approach the match without the required concentration. The absence of two experienced players makes discipline and tactical organisation even more important.

The Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo will provide the setting for the match because Eritrea do not currently have a CAF-accredited venue available in their own country. Bafana Bafana will therefore face their opponents outside Eritrea while still playing an away fixture in the qualification campaign. The unusual circumstances surrounding the venue will require the South African players to remain focused on their responsibilities. Mosimane will want his team to settle quickly and avoid allowing the changes to the lineup to disrupt their approach. The objective remains to secure another positive result and continue building momentum in Group D.

The loss of Mokoena also places greater responsibility on the other midfielders in the squad. The central midfield area will need to remain compact while providing enough support to the attack. Aubaas and Sithole could be asked to perform important roles depending on the system Mosimane chooses. Their ability to maintain structure will be particularly important if Eritrea attempt to put pressure on South Africa through the middle of the pitch. The midfield must also provide a platform for Bafana Bafana’s attacking players to create opportunities.

At the back, the replacement for Modiba will face a similar challenge. The left-back must remain disciplined defensively while still providing an outlet when South Africa have possession. Kabini and Basadien offer Mosimane different possibilities, but either player will need to settle quickly into the team’s tactical structure. Communication with the central defenders and midfielders will also be essential as South Africa adjust to the change. A coordinated defensive performance could help Bafana Bafana manage the absence of Modiba without losing their overall shape.

The injuries also highlight the demands placed on players during international qualification periods. Bafana Bafana are playing matches in quick succession, leaving limited time for recovery and preparation between fixtures. Mosimane must therefore manage both the physical condition of his squad and the tactical requirements of the campaign. The medical team’s assessment has already removed two players from consideration, making the depth of the squad important. The players who come into the starting lineup now have an opportunity to demonstrate that South Africa have enough strength across different positions.

For Mokoena and Modiba, the immediate focus will be on their recovery after the medical scans ruled them out of the Eritrea match. Their absence is a setback for Mosimane, but the coach has already identified potential replacements within the squad. Bafana Bafana cannot afford to dwell on the players who are unavailable because another important qualifier awaits. The team must instead focus on maintaining the intensity and discipline that helped secure the victory over Guinea. How effectively the replacements settle into their roles could have a major influence on the performance in Cairo.

South Africa therefore enter the Eritrea match with three points already secured but with two important players missing from the squad. Mokoena’s absence affects the midfield, while Modiba’s injury creates a vacancy at left-back. Mosimane has options in Aubaas, Sithole, Kabini and Basadien, giving him the ability to reshape the lineup without having to completely change his tactical plans. The challenge will be ensuring that those changes do not affect the team’s confidence or organisation. With another three points at stake, Bafana Bafana will need the available players to step forward and maintain the momentum created by their opening victory.