South Africa include Super Eagles-eligible defender in 50-man provisional squad for 2023 AFCON

The South African Football Association has announced Bafana Bafana's provisional roster for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire with a Super Eagles-eligible player making the cut. 

An analysis of the 50-player roster revealed that five goalkeepers, eighteen defenders, thirteen midfielders and fourteen forwards have been selected by South Africa's Belgian football tactician Hugo Broos.

The squad is headlined by  Al-Ahly winger Percy Tau, who was this week named the 2023 African Inter-Club Player of the Year at the CAF Awards.

SuperSport United central defender Ime Okon has been named in the provisional squad and would become cap-tied to South Africa if he makes the final 23-man squad and plays in the tournament. 

Okon is eligible for South Africa where he was born and the Super Eagles by virtue of being born to a Nigerian father. 

The 19-year-old has caught the attention of Broos on the back of a breakthrough season at SuperSport United. 

Okon has started ten out of a possible thirteen games in the this season's DStv Premiership and also represented Matsatsantsa in the CAF Confederation Cup.

1996 champions South Africa are in Group E of the Africa Cup of Nations and will face Tunisia, Mali and Namibia in the group stage.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: Instagram

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