Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has announced 23-man squad that will face   Botswana in a crucial Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier that will take place on Saturday (7 September 2013) at the  Moses Mabhida Stadium.The match will kick-off at 15h30.

Igesund has named eight overseas-based players and 15 home-based players.

Also getting a recall after a long absence are Holland-based Thulani Serero and Kagisho Dikgacoi who plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premiership.

“This has been a difficult exercise picking the team because there are a lot of players doing very well, more so those based overseas. I had to choose my strongest possible squad for this clash with Botswana because that’s where all my focus is right now. The match against Botswana is a huge game for us…
We need to go there and do what we have to do – win this game. Our fate will be decided by the outcome of the match between CAR and Ethiopia. But I can’t focus on something we have no control over, what we have to do is make sure we win our game but I am confident we will beat Botswana with the team I have chosen.”

said Igesund.

The match against Botswana will be played simultaneously with the other group A clash between Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is leading the group with 10 points, two ahead of the second-placed South Africa, while Botswana is third with seven points. CAR is out of contention on three points.

For South Africa to go through, they will have to defeat Botswana, and hope that Ethiopia loses or draws against CAR.

Botswana could still sneak in if they defeat South Africa by a huge margin and hope CAR downs Ethiopia.A win for Ethiopia will eliminate all the other teams.