Durban – Anele Ngcongca has failed to arrive for Bafana Bafana duty, an infuriated national coach Gordon Igesund confirmed on Tuesday.
The Belgium-based defender was expected to arrive in Durban a day later than the rest of the squad, along with Tokelo Rantie, but was held back by his club Genk, who claim he was carrying an injury ahead of Bafana's friendly against Nigeria on Wednesday.
Igesund said that those excuses would not be tolerated, insisting it was a 'fabricated story'.
“He was supposed to leave from his club on Monday morning, but his club wanted to hold him back,” Igesund said at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“They then phoned me up and requested I release the player because of some important games coming up. I explained the situation to them, saying we can’t release him.
“He needs to be here and he needs to be on that flight. Then late last night I got a call from the coach saying he’s picked up an injury. Where it happened I don’t know.
“At the end of the day, it’s a fabricated story and I expect justice to take its course.”
The match against the African champions forms part of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, with South Africa scheduled to face Burkina Faso in a Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Igesund said the matter has been reported to Safa and they will take it up with world governing body Fifa as the match fell on an international date.
No replacement will be called up for Ngcongca.
Following the arrival of Rantie from Sweden, the squad now sits at 22 players from its initial 28.
On Monday, SuperSport United captain Bevan Fransman was given off until Thursday to be with his wife for the birth of their child. – Sapa