Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena shared why qualifying for the AFCON is so special for him on a personal level.
The Mamelodi Sundowns star was one of the key players for Bafana in their back-to-back qualifiers against Liberia. He delivered solid performances in both matches.
He played the entire match in the 2-2 draw against the Lone Stars in Orlando last week. Mokoena also produced another solid performance in Monrovia on Tuesday.
Teboho Mokoena’s three AFCON finals
Although they didn’t make things easy for themselves, Hugo Broos’ side managed to book their ticket to the Ivory Coast for next year’s AFCON.
After their hard-fought 2-1 win away in Liberia, Mokoena shared why this was an extraordinary achievement for him.
The 26-year-old will have played in three AFCON tournaments for South Africa for different age groups. That is if he makes the final squad headed to the Ivory Coast.
He was in Thabo Senong’s U-20 side that played at the 2017 U-20 AFCON in Zambia. They finished fourth to qualify for the World Cup in South Korea.
In 2019, Mokoena was part of David Notoane’s Under 23 squad that played at the AFCON in Egypt. That team finished third to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
“AFCON U23, AFCON Bafana Bafana. I am proud of myself; God is amazing,” Mokoena wrote on Instagram.
Mokoena is now set to play in his first AFCON finals with the senior national team, having established himself as a vital cog in Broos’ midfield.
Guaranteed of qualification
Bafana are one of only seven teams already qualified for the 2023 edition of the showpiece after just four matches.
After FIFA banned Zimbabwe, they are now guaranteed at least a second spot in Group K, which only had three teams – Bafana, Liberia and leaders Morocco.
Their last group match against the Atlas Lions in June will essentially be a dead rubber, with Broos set to use it as part of the preparation for the tournament.
The other teams that have secured their spots at the AFCON include hosts Ivory Coast and defending champions Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Tunisia.