Aden McCarthy has earned a place in Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane’s 38-man preliminary squad ahead of South Africa’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Kenya.

The inclusion is an important opportunity for the young defender, who will be hoping to impress the national team’s technical staff and secure a place in the final squad for the two crucial encounters scheduled for November.

South Africa are preparing for back-to-back meetings with Kenya as they continue their campaign to qualify for the 2027 AFCON tournament. The first match is scheduled to take place on home soil on November 13, 2026, before Bafana Bafana travel to Nairobi for the return fixture on November 17.

With two matches coming in quick succession, Mosimane will need a squad capable of handling the demands of both encounters. The preliminary selection gives several players an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities before the final team is confirmed.

For McCarthy, being included among the 38 players is a significant step. A preliminary call-up provides an opportunity to work alongside established national team players, learn from the technical team and show that he can compete for a place at the highest level of South African football.

However, making the preliminary squad does not guarantee a place in the final selection. McCarthy will need to continue working hard and make the most of any opportunity available to him as the coaching staff assesses its options.

The competition for places in the national team is expected to be strong, particularly as South Africa look to build a balanced squad capable of delivering positive results against Kenya.

Bafana Bafana will also be eager to make the most of their home advantage in the opening encounter before facing a potentially difficult challenge away from home in Nairobi. Securing positive results across both matches will be important to their qualification ambitions.

McCarthy’s inclusion is another development for supporters to follow as the national team prepares for the November fixtures. Whether he makes the final squad remains to be seen, but his preliminary call-up puts him in contention for an opportunity to represent South Africa.

Bafana Bafana supporters, do you think Aden McCarthy deserves a place in the final squad for the Kenya qualifiers?

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