Hugo Broos reveals reasons behind Khanyiso Mayo’s Bafana Bafana snubs

Mayo was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Evidence Makgopa in the latest Bafana squad for the FIFA Series international friendlies against Andorra and Algeria this month.

Despite being one of the leading goal scorers in the DStv Premiership, Broos left Mayo out for the recent 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire – a decision the coach has since explained.

"You know why Mayo was not in AFCON? Because he was good months ago but he didn't progress. He needed to take that one step more to be a real Bafana Bafana player, and he didn't," explained Broos.

"So therefore he was not with us at AFCON, and now, okay, with all the injuries we've had, I'm giving him a chance again. So it's up to him to show, okay, I can reach that level of Bafana Bafana.

"If he can, okay, we again have one more good striker – a young one, so that means we have less problems in future."

Mayo comes with a lot of junior international experience, having been to the U17 FIFA World Cup and playing for the U20 and U23 national teams. 

Currently on nine goals in the league – just one behind Mamelodi Sundowns’ Brazilians forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa, there remains an aspect of his game that Broos feels needs to improve.

"I find that Mayo is sometimes really out of the game. You're looking for him, but you don't see him; he's there, but no action, nothing. You can't be like that as a striker, certainly not on the level that we play," he added

"So, I think it's also maybe a mental problem for him, to have that mentality of, 'Hey, I want to show it.' So, again, he's a nice guy and I liked him, therefore he was [previously] with us because there is potential."

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