Orlando Pirates will be represented by four players across three nations when Africa’s FIFA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers get underway later this month.
As domestic football pauses once again to make way for international action, a quartet of Bucs stars is set to swap Club colours for international colours in the coming days.
This is after Ghana, Namibia and South Africa all included Pirates players in squads named on Friday.
Of the three, Namibia’s Brave Warriors will be the first to take to the field as they travel to take on Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday night, with their next fixture also on the road as they visit Sao Tome e Principe next Tuesday.
Head coach Collin Benjamin has included winger Deon Hotto in his 26-man squad that will open their Group H campaign by journeying up north, with the experienced Bucs star in line for a 66th international cap.
Four of his club teammates have made the cut in a 23-man Bafana Bafana squad announced by Hugo Broos.
Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi and striker Zakhele Lepasa were two Buccaneers initially called up by the Belgian mentor as he assembled a squad to welcome Benin to Durban for their first Group C outing next Saturday before travelling to Butare for a clash against Rwanda three days later. They have been joined by another two Pirates players in Tapelo Xoki and Evidence Makgopa, who have both been brought in as late injury replacements.
Goalkeeper Richard Ofori is the other Bucs player set for international duty this month after his call-up to the Ghana squad that will host Madagascar in Kumasi before making a trip to the Comoros. The Black Stars are in Group I and take to the field on Friday, 17 November and Tuesday the 21st, respectively.
International Fixtures Involving Orlando Pirates Players
Wednesday, 15 November
● Equatorial Guinea vs Namibia, kick-off at 15:00
Friday, 17 November
● Ghana vs Madagascar, kick-off at 18:00
Saturday, 18 November
● South Africa vs Benin, kick-off at 15:00
Tuesday, 21 November
● Rwanda vs South Africa, kick-off at 15:00
● Sao Tome e Principe vs Namibia, kick-off at 18:00
● Comoros vs Ghana, kick-off at 18:00
