Standby rules! Hugo Broos gives insight into why he chose to select three players on Bafana's standby list for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament

Hugo Broos told Mduduzi Shabalala, Iqraam Rayners and Thabo Moloisane to stay fit and sharp as an SOS can be sent to them any minute a Bafana Bafana player gets to miss the Africa Cup of Nations.

Broos said these three are on standby to board a flight to Morocco should Bafana’s 25-man squad miss the tournament for whatever reason.

The Belgian coach announced his squad for the upcoming tournament starting from 18 December to 18 January.

"It's very important that we have players who knows that if there is something happening with an injury or whatever, we can count on them. We will ask them to stay in shape, to train. To keep in good condition because any moment some can happen and we have to be prepared," Broos said after announcing his team.

"That's why I have selected three players to standby. I don't want to take them with me because then everyday you are with 28 players on training sessions and it's not so easy to work with it. That's why I will ask them to standby. Let's hope that we don't need them because that will mean we have a problem. In the other way, I hope there will be a possibility for them to still come to Morocco."