Themba Zwane of South Africa during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers match between South Africa and Uganda at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto on 06 September 2024
Sydney Mahlangu, Backpages
With Bafana Bafana going into this evening’s match with everything to play for on quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Themba Zwane who is one of the team’s influential players could be set to achieve a milestone.
Bafana will face Congo Brazzaville in their AFCON qualifier at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha and Zwane could be playing his 50th match for the national team.
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Having made his Bafana debut in 2014, the Tembisa-born midfielder has gone on to become one of the most important members of the team, always delivering when it matters the most and is an inspiration to the upcoming players.
Zwane, 35, has scored 12 goals in the South Africa senior national team colours.
“Bafana Bafana midfielder Themba Zwane will achieve a milestone should he play against Congo Brazzaville in a crunch 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha tonight,” SAFA confirmed on their official website.
“The midfielder will earn his 50th cap should he face the visiting Congolese side in this Eastern Cape city on Friday, 11 October 2024. Zwane, alongside captain Ronwen Williams (46 caps) and Percy Tau (also 46 caps), is one of the most experienced players in the team seeking to qualify for the continental tournament to be held in Morocco next year. The Tembisa-born midfielder initially came into the picture when he made his Bafana Bafana debut in 2014 in a clash against Australia when the nations played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly international, coming off the bench wearing jersey number 8 to replace Ayanda Patosi at ANZ Stadium in Sydney in Australia,” confirmed SAFA.
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“He has since made 49 appearances for a total of 3 479 minutes and has scored 12 goals in the process. His first Bafana Bafana goal came against Burkina Faso in a FIFA World Cup qualifier the South African senior men’s national team won 3-1 at FNB Stadium on 7 October 2017. The 35-year-old Zwane has been hailed as one of South Africa’s finest ever midfielders, and Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos continues to heap praise on him,” concluded SAFA’s statement.
Predicted Bafana Line-Up: Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Morena, Grant Kekana, Rushwin Dortley, Aubrey Modiba, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena, Luke Le Roux, Oswin Appollis, Elias Mokwana, Iqraam Rayners.
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