Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has confirmed that he will not call up an additional player as a replacement for the injured Tsepo Masilela.
South Africa face Mauritania in a AFCON 2017 qualifier at the Olympic stadium in Nouakchott on Saturday, September 5.
The Kaizer Chiefs left-back was alleged to be undergoing a surgery following his call-up to the national team but Mashaba remains positive that the former Getafe defender will join the rest of the squad ahead of their trip.
Mashaba, however, said he has enough back up players for the left back position within the team and he will not press the panic button, should Masilela fail to report to camp.
“Let’s say he doesn’t come to camp, we are not going to call another player as a replacement,” insisted Mashaba
“We have back up players in his (Masilela) position already and it is not to say that when we call a player for a certain position we have to solely rely on them.
“Yes, players will differ from one another in terms of experience and what they offer.
“But if they are not there, there is nothing much we can do but we’ll have to use those we have called to come and do the job for us.”
Heading to this clash, Bafana are coming from a disappointing goalless stalemate against Gambia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium back in June while Mauritania are coming from a 1-0 loss to the group leaders Cameroon.
The match will kick-off at 20:00 (SA time).