South Africa go with young team

Pierre Issa's call-up surprised many South African football fans

South Africa have included seven uncapped players in their squad for the African Nations Cup finals.

Caretaker coach Ted Dumitru, who took over from Stuart Baxter in November, picked an experimental side including defender Tshepo Masilela who has yet to play top league football.

The squad also includes the former Olympique Marseille and Watford defender Pierre Issa who has not played for the last six months because of a contract dispute in Greece.

At the Nations Cup finals in Egypt later this month, Bafana Bafana have been drawn in group C with Guinea, Zambia and champions Tunisia.

South Africa, who will host the 2010 World Cup finals, have not won in their last nine matches and missed out on qualifying for the 2006 finals.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Moneeb Josephs (Ajax Cape Town, SA), Calvin Marlin (SuperSport United, SA), Avril Phadi (Jomo Cosmos, SA)

Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (SuperSport United, SA), Pierre Issa (OFI Crete, Greece), Ricardo Katza (SuperSport United, SA), Mbulelo Mabizela (Valerenga,Norway), Tshepo Masilela (Premier United, SA), Vuyo Mere (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Jimmy Tau (Kaizer Chiefs, SA)
Midfielders: Mlungisi Gumbi (Lamontville Golden Arrows, SA), Joseph Makhanya (Orlando Pirates, SA), Siyabonga Nkosi (Bloemfontein Celtic, SA), Daniel Tshabalala (Orlando Pirates, SA), Simphiwe Tshabalala (Free State Stars, SA), Elrio van Heerden (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates, SA)
Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Porto, Portugal), Lebohang Mokoena (Orlando Pirates, SA), Katlego Mphela (SuperSport United, SA), Nkosinathi Nhleko (Viking Stavanger, Norway), Siyabonga Nomvete (Orlando Pirates, SA), Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany).