Mamelodi Sundowns forward Anthony Laffor played for Liberia as they were beaten 4-1 in Tunisia in their African Nations Cup qualifier this past weekend.
Laffor could be a key figure in the coming weeks for The Brazilians with Leonardo Castro out injured‚ and new signings Sibusiso Vilakazi and Yannick Zakri not eligible for the African Champions League.
Cuthbert Malajila has also left for BidVest Wits‚ leaving Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane thin on attacking options for their two-legged semifinal against Zambian champions Zesco United.
Laffor could therefore hold the key to success for the South African side and he must now make the long journey back from Tunis having played for his country.
He was one of a host of Premier Soccer League players who turned out for their nations this past weekend.
Uganda qualified for their first Nations Cup finals since 1978 with a 1-0 victory over the Comoros Islands.
New Baroka FC signing Khalid Aucho played a key role as a defensive midfielder.
Sundowns keeper Dennis Onyango managed to keep a clean sheet‚ while another new Baroka player‚ striker Geoffrey Massa‚ also started.
The victory was a personal triumph for former Orlando Pirates coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic‚ who has masterminded The Cranes’ qualification to end their long wait.
Kenya had Maritzburg United defender Brian Mandela playing in the game.
Bloemfontein Celtic defender Robert Sankara was in the Burkina Faso squad that grabbed a last-gasp qualification thanks to a 2-1 victory over Botswana.
Former Free State Stars goalkeeper Daouda Diakite and Santos youngster Issouf Paro were also there as the Burkinabe grabbed what proved a vital winner nine minutes into injury-time in a game that also saw three red cards from Tunisian referee Youssef Essrayri.
Highlands Park midfielder Lebogang Ditsele played for The Zebras.
Zambia ended their disappointing campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Kenya. There was no sign of Kaizer Chiefs forward Lewis Macha after he was ruled out prior to the game with an ankle injury.
BidVest Wits winger Elias Pelembe played for Mozambique as they defeated Mauritius 1-0‚ while Zimbabwe had a number of current and former PSL stars in their line-up for the dead-rubber 1-0 loss to Guinea.
Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United) and Malajila (BidVest Wits) all started‚ along with former Chiefs stars Knowledge Musona and Matthew Rusike‚ who now play in Europe.
Sundowns’ Billiat was rested by coach Kallisto Pasuwa‚ much to the delight of Mosimane.
Former Wits striker Getaneh Kebede‚ who spent last season on loan at University of Pretoria‚ was on the scorehseet for Ethiopia as they won 2-1 at home to Seychelles.
Another former Wits player‚ Burundi midfielder Faty Papy‚ was in Niger for his side’s 3-1 loss in Niamey.
Papy was much prized by Wits coach Gavin Hunt‚ but medical issues meant he has left the club‚ though he continues to fly the flag for his country.
Namibia started with most of their South African-based players in the 2-0 loss to Senegal‚ including Wangu Gome (BidVest Wits)‚ Maximillian Mbaeva and Chris Katjiukua (both Lamontville Golden Arrows)‚ and Deon Hotto (Bloemfontein Celtic).
Finally‚ Malawi had a trio of PSL players in their starting line-up in the 1-0 victory over Swaziland that ended the latter’s qualification hopes.
Limbikani Mzava (Golden Arrows)‚ Robert Ng’ambi (Platinum Stars) and Franck Mhango (BidVest Wits) all played. - TMG Digital
SA-based African stars fly the PSL flag in 2017 African Nations Cup qualifiers (PHOTOS)
Mamelodi Sundowns forward Anthony Laffor played for Liberia as they were beaten 4-1 in Tunisia in their African Nations Cup qualifier this past weekend.
Laffor could be a key figure in the coming weeks for The Brazilians with Leonardo Castro out injured‚ and new signings Sibusiso Vilakazi and Yannick Zakri not eligible for the African Champions League.
Cuthbert Malajila has also left for BidVest Wits‚ leaving Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane thin on attacking options for their two-legged semifinal against Zambian champions Zesco United.
Laffor could therefore hold the key to success for the South African side and he must now make the long journey back from Tunis having played for his country.
He was one of a host of Premier Soccer League players who turned out for their nations this past weekend.
Uganda qualified for their first Nations Cup finals since 1978 with a 1-0 victory over the Comoros Islands.
New Baroka FC signing Khalid Aucho played a key role as a defensive midfielder.
Sundowns keeper Dennis Onyango managed to keep a clean sheet‚ while another new Baroka player‚ striker Geoffrey Massa‚ also started.
The victory was a personal triumph for former Orlando Pirates coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic‚ who has masterminded The Cranes’ qualification to end their long wait.
Kenya had Maritzburg United defender Brian Mandela playing in the game.
Bloemfontein Celtic defender Robert Sankara was in the Burkina Faso squad that grabbed a last-gasp qualification thanks to a 2-1 victory over Botswana.
Former Free State Stars goalkeeper Daouda Diakite and Santos youngster Issouf Paro were also there as the Burkinabe grabbed what proved a vital winner nine minutes into injury-time in a game that also saw three red cards from Tunisian referee Youssef Essrayri.
Highlands Park midfielder Lebogang Ditsele played for The Zebras.
Zambia ended their disappointing campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Kenya. There was no sign of Kaizer Chiefs forward Lewis Macha after he was ruled out prior to the game with an ankle injury.
BidVest Wits winger Elias Pelembe played for Mozambique as they defeated Mauritius 1-0‚ while Zimbabwe had a number of current and former PSL stars in their line-up for the dead-rubber 1-0 loss to Guinea.
Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United) and Malajila (BidVest Wits) all started‚ along with former Chiefs stars Knowledge Musona and Matthew Rusike‚ who now play in Europe.
Sundowns’ Billiat was rested by coach Kallisto Pasuwa‚ much to the delight of Mosimane.
Former Wits striker Getaneh Kebede‚ who spent last season on loan at University of Pretoria‚ was on the scorehseet for Ethiopia as they won 2-1 at home to Seychelles.
Another former Wits player‚ Burundi midfielder Faty Papy‚ was in Niger for his side’s 3-1 loss in Niamey.
Papy was much prized by Wits coach Gavin Hunt‚ but medical issues meant he has left the club‚ though he continues to fly the flag for his country.
Namibia started with most of their South African-based players in the 2-0 loss to Senegal‚ including Wangu Gome (BidVest Wits)‚ Maximillian Mbaeva and Chris Katjiukua (both Lamontville Golden Arrows)‚ and Deon Hotto (Bloemfontein Celtic).
Finally‚ Malawi had a trio of PSL players in their starting line-up in the 1-0 victory over Swaziland that ended the latter’s qualification hopes.
Limbikani Mzava (Golden Arrows)‚ Robert Ng’ambi (Platinum Stars) and Franck Mhango (BidVest Wits) all played. - TMG Digital
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