Bafana Bafana's defensive woes pile up after Nkosinathi Sibisi is ruled out of Guinea AFCON qualifier

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has expressed his belief that Bafana Bafana could gain from the current defensive partnership between Lebone Seema and Nkosinathi Sibisi at the club level. Seema was recently included in Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane's final squad for the upcoming international window, a move that is seen as a well-deserved reward for his consistency and recognition of his second season with Pirates.

Sibisi, an experienced defender in the national-team setup, will now have the opportunity to pair up with Seema, who has already established a rapport with him during their time together at Orlando Pirates. Lekgwathi believes that this familiarity could be beneficial for the national team, stating, "Unfortunately coach Hugo didn’t pick him and Sibisi when he was still here but a combination and connection like that is something that Bafana could build on."

Seema's inclusion in the squad has been anticipated, with the 23-year-old already being named Defender of the Season for his outstanding performances with Pirates. Lekgwathi further added, "It's a well deserved call up for Seema of course, he is the current defender of the season so some might say it's long overdue because he's been very consistent for a person just in his second season with Pirates."

Mosimane will have the chance to assess the defensive options available to him during the international window as he begins his second spell in charge of Bafana. The coach has selected a mix of experienced internationals and younger players, with Seema among those aiming to establish themselves in the national-team setup. Bafana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign starts with a match against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 26, followed by a trip to Egypt for matches against Eritrea on September 30 and a friendly on October 4.

Mosimane will have the opportunity to test different combinations, including the existing understanding between Seema and Sibisi at Pirates, to see if it can translate to the international stage.