Mamelodi Sundowns' Manqoba Mngqithi on Grant Kekana's omission from Bafana Bafana's squad - 'We should give Hugo Broos freedom to choose his team'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed his feelings about Grant Kekana's omission from the Bafana Bafana's squad.

Hugo Broos announced his final 23-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan on Thursday and the Masandawana defender was a notable absentee.

While others were left surprised, Mngqithi has insisted Broos should be given his freedom to do what is good for his team.

"Grant is not injured, probably the coach just decided (to leave him out),” said Mngqithi, per iDiski Times.

"Even in the previous Fifa break, before the last one, he was out and Siyabonga Ngezana was in the team, and this time Ngezana was out, and he brought Grant in and he played well.

“I do believe we should give the coach the freedom to choose his team the way he wants it in that space.”

Kekana has been a regular in the Bafana Bafana squad since 2022 under Broos' guidance.

The 32-year-old central defender was part of South Africa's squad that finished third in the 2023 Afcon earlier this year.

Bafana need just three points against either Uganda or South Sudan out of the available six in Group K to qualify for the Afcon finals.

Bafana Bafana will first face off against Uganda next week Friday before hosting South Sudan at the DHL Stadium on November 19.

Kekana, on the other hand, will be hoping to put in strong performances for Sundowns over the next few months, in order to earn himself a recall to the national team during the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in March next year.