50 PSL players in WC qualifiers

At least 50 PSL players will be on duty for six Southern African countries during next month's qualifiers – an indication of the heavy footprint made by South African football on the region.

22 PSL players make up Pitso Mosimane's 30-member Bafana Bafana squad, and a good number of PSL players are likely to be in action when South Africa take on Ethiopia and Botswana in their two opening Group A qualifiers on June 1 and 8, respectively.

Malawi, who play Kenya on June 2 before taking on the Super Eagles of Nigeria seven days later, have included nine South African-based players in their team.

Robert Ng'ambi of Platinum Stars and Atusaye Nyondo of SuperSport United are among some of the familiar players expected to play important roles during the two matches.

Zimbabwe's Warriors will also have a strong PSL presence during their qualifiers against Guinea and Mozambique. Much will be expected from the experienced duo of Tinashe Negomasha (Kaizer Chiefs) and Tapuwa Kapini (AmaZulu), who are part of the seven South African-based players included in coach Rahman Gumbo's squad.

Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates) and Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars) are part of five PSL players that make up the Zambian national team, Chipolopolo.

The 2012 African Cup of Nations champions take on Sudan in Khartoum on June 2, before they host Ghana in Lusaka on June 9 in their two World Cup qualifiers.

The SuperSport duo of Dipsy Selolwane and Mogogi Gabonamong are among four South African-based players in the Botswana national team that will play against the Central African Republic on June 2 in the preliminary round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

While the Brave Warriors of Namibia will be without injured Platinum Stars striker Henrico Botes when they take on Nigeria on June 3, they still have within their ranks Rudolph Bester of Orlando Pirates and Tangeni Shipahu of AmaZulu.

Botes is expected to return to full fitness in time for the match against Kenya on June 9.