South African male national team coach, Hugo Broos, has included a Nigerian born defender, Ime Okon, as part of his preliminary squad for the 2025 African Cup of Nation, AFCON.
Bross unveiled a 54-player squad, which included Okon, as a provisional list which will be streamlined to 23 who will represent the country at the AFCON as the side aim to win the competition, having done so as hosts in the 1996 edition – their only triumph in the continent’s soccer fiesta.
The defender, whose father hails from Nigeria and his mother, a South African, plies his trade with German side, Hannover 96. He joins the fellow shortlisted players, many of them from Orlando Pirates which has 13 representatives, all who will jostle for the final team list to be included for the showdown billed for Morocco.
Bross, on Monday, listed 36-year-old Themba Zwane, who has been sidelined with injury since September as part of the shortlists alongside 12 foreign based players.
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has directed all participating teams to submit their final squads for the tournament on or before December 11.
The competition begins on December 21 to conclude on January 18, 2026.
