South Africa name squad for Mali

South Africa have named their squad for the 2002 African Nations Cup finals in Mali next month.

Veteran 32 year old midfielder Thabo Mngomeni from Orlando Pirates midfielder is included despite serving a six-month ban recently from domestic football and refusing to train this week with the national team squad.

He was originally dropped by Brazilian coach Carlos Queiroz for that misdemeanour but has been reinstated after offering "an acceptable excuse" to the coach.

20 year old striker Lesley 'Slow Poison' Manyathela may still be included if Serie A club Udinese refuse to release Siyabonga Nomvete with South Africa facing Ghana, Morocco and Burkina Faso in Group B in Group B matches from January 19th.

The squad in full -

Goalkeepers - Andre Arendse (Santos), Brian Baloyi (Kaizer Chiefs) and Hans Vonk (Heerenveen).

Defenders - Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Carnell (VfB Stuttgart), Pierre Issa (Watford), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow), Mbulelo Mabizelo (Orlando Pirates), Aaron Mokoena (Germinal), Frank Schoeman and Macbeth Sibaya (Jomo Cosmos).

Midfielders - Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum), Quinton Fortune (Manchester United), Thabo Mngomeni (Pirates), Bennett Mnguni (Mamelodi Sundowns), Dillon Sheppard (Ajax Cape Town), Eric Tinkler (Barnsley) and Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen).

Strikers - Bradley August (Santos), Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic), Benni McCarthy (FC Porto) and Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese).