There will be a PSL footprint in Sunday’s AFCON final even if Bafana Bafana does not proceed to the final, with three of the four semi-finalists having players from the DStv Premiership.
The two last four matches play out on Wednesday with Bafana up against Nigeria while DR Congo meet the hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
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Any of the four possible finals will feature at least one player from the two squads that will walk out at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday (22h00).
The Bafana squad has the biggest numbers from the DStv Premiership with all but only three players in the 23 men squad not playing at home.
That means 20 players from the domestic league with half of that number from Mamelodi Sundowns in Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Thapelo Morena, and Thapelo Maseko.
Orlando Pirates has four while Kaizer Chiefs don’t even have one player.
Nigeria have Chippa United keeper Stanley Nwabali, who has been outstanding between the posts in his debut AFCON.
So, be it Bafana or the Super Eagles in the final, the DStv Premiership will be represented.
At the other end, the Ivorians have Sekhukhune United Ali Badra Sangare in their squad, but he hasn’t played in any of the five matches to date.
Their opponents tonight – DR Congo – don’t have any player attached to a club in South Africa.
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Since the 1996 final won by Bafana, it was only until 2012 that the DStv Premiership had a weighty voice in the final with Zambia in the final.
Chipolopolo were in the final with players from South African clubs and another six who had previously played or went on to have contracts in the PSL.
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