AFCON 2025: Orlando Pirates forward Patrick Maswanganyi unfazed by squad exclusion

Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has remained calm despite his exclusion from coach Hugo Broos’ final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup Nations.

The 27-year-old, who played a part in Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, was included in Hugo Broos’ preliminary 54-man squad but missed on the final cut for the continental showpiece in Morocco.

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, “Tito” as he affectionately known, says he wasn’t surprised about his exclusion from the final 25-man list.

Maswanganyi has struggled for playing time at Pirates

“I already knew that I wasn’t going to make it to the AFCON squad because I wasn’t playing – I would get a few minutes to play. But I think when I was called up to the national team, I had problems with small injuries.

“I think those kinds of things do affect your mind and your position in the national team, because we have a lot of players in the country who are working hard and are doing very well and deserve to be selected. For me, I didn’t even think about it, because I already knew that I wasn’t going to make it,” said Maswanganyi.

“Everyone wants to be there but if you can’t be there you can’t force things. I think I need to work hard and try to wait for my opportunity. Right now, I am working hard to find my place back in the team, if I do well in the team, that raises my chances to be in the national team.”

Maswanganyi has also struggled to command a regular place in Orlando Pirates squad, managing just a game with one assist this campaign as they sit top of the Premiership with 28 points from 12 matches.

He admits to his struggles under Moroccan manager, Abdelslam Ouaddou. “Some of the things you can’t control in life. It has been hard to sometimes watch the other players play, but you need to understand that those people work hard and they are doing well at the moment.

For me, it has never been the case of asking the coach as to why I am not playing but for me it is about showing the other guys especially the new guys that I can be on the bench and support them – to motivate them, because they are doing well for the team.”

Patrick Maswanganyi alongside Masindi Nemtajela and Kamogelo Sebelebele are the Orlando Pirates players excluded from the final Bafana Bafana AFCON squad.

The 1996 African champions have a squad that is dominated by home based players including five from Mamelodi Sundown, eight Orlando Pirates players with the remainder spread across other clubs.

South Africa’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).

DEFENDERS; Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers), Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB), Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates).

MIDFIELDERS; Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Siphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela).

FORWARDS; Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (El Ettafaq), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnely FC), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem), Shandre Campbell (Club Brugge), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates).

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