Itumeleng Khune unhappy Thembinkosi Lorch missed Bafana call-up for AFCON squad

Broos on Monday named a sizeable 54-player preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place in Morocco from 21 December, yet 32-year-old Lorch was conspicuously absent.

"This is not the future. I'm very sorry," Broos said when asked again about Lorch.

"Even though he's playing well in Morocco, I don't see any reason to take him with the team."

Lorch, who transferred from Mamelodi Sundowns to Wydad AC earlier this year, has impressed in Morocco, scoring five goals in nine appearances this season.

Despite Lorch's strong form, Broos has consistently indicated that the forward has no future with the national team, a stance Khune appears to challenge.

In a brief but pointed social media post, Khune, who boasts nearly 100 caps for Bafana Bafana and more than 250 appearances for Kaizer Chiefs over a 20-year career, made clear his disagreement with Broos' approach.

"He's on form, we need him as a country, coach," Khune posted on social media.

His intervention suggests a deep concern for the implications of leaving out key experienced players.

The preliminary squad is expected to be trimmed to 23 players in the coming days as Broos finalises his team for the tournament.

Khune's comments have sparked debate among fans and pundits, raising questions about whether Bafana Bafana may be overlooking proven talent ahead of one of the continent's biggest competitions.