Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Gerald Sibeko’s impressive run during a difficult season for Amakhosi was finally recognised on Wednesday as he was included in the Bafana Bafana squad to play Nigeria in a 2010 African Nations Cup Group Four qualifier next month.

The nippy midfielder joins a long list of Amakhosi stars who have featured for the national team and he will be hoping to make a lasting impression on new coach Joel Santana.

Sibeko is not the only Chiefs player in the squad. Others are goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who has had a superb season for Amakhosi and he too will want to cement his place as the number one choice for Bafana.

Defender Mokete Tsotetsi is the third Amakhosi player in the squad. As expected, there was a huge concentration of SuperSport United players following their championship victory.

Generally, it is a balanced squad based on the foundation laid by former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

The Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Itumuleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Moeneeb Josephs (BidVest Wits).

Defenders: Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Mokete Tsotetsi (Kaizer Chiefs), Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Siboniso Gaxa (Supersport United), Benson Mhlongo (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfielders: Lance Davids (FC Djurgardens), Macbeth Sibaya (Ruban Kazan), Delron Buckley (Borussia Dortmund), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Gerald Sibeko (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs).

Forwards: Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa), Katlego Mashego (Supersport United), Benedict McCarthy (Blackburn).