Hugo Broos downplays Fagrie Lakay's AFCON snub

Speaking after announcing Bafana’s final 23-man squad going to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Broos said he’s previously given Lakay enough time to prove himself, but he was not impressed. 

READ: Hugo Broos names 23-man Bafana squad for AFCON finals

He alleged the 26-year-old was struggling for game-time at his club, although the ex-Cape Town City attacker has been a regular feature, having played 14 games across all competitions – including all six of Pyramids CAF Champions League outings – this season.

"We had Fagrie a few times with the national team and, honestly, the performances of Fagrie were not good, so I saw then after that, he doesn't always play with Pyramids," Broos told the media.

"So, again, this is a choice we made, and I made the choice not to take him with the selection."

The omission of Lakay comes at a critical time when leading Bafana strikers Lebo Mothiba and Lyle Foster are also out of the team due to injury and mental health issues respectively.

The Belgian tactician seemingly rating Orlando Pirates duo Zakhele Lepasa and Evidence Makgopa higher up the pecking order.

"First of all, I think Lepasa showed already with the national team that he's not so bad as a striker and he's scored regularly," he added.

"Makgopa was the striker in the beginning when I [started] coaching Bafana, and he did well too, so he's playing now again at Pirates and scoring too, so he has confidence.

"Those are the two that I have to choose because, ok, Foster and Mothiba are not there, so I have confidence in these guys."

Another option left out is last season’s joint DStv Premiership top goal scorer Khanyisa Mayo, who has also had an impressive first half of the 2023/24 season with seven goals in 14 league appearances so far.

READ MORE: Wilfried Zaha omitted from Ivory Coast squad