Fawaaz Basadien will captain South Africa for the first time when Bafana Bafana takes on Tanzania in an international friendly on Friday.

Speaking at a media press conference on Thursday, South Africa’s national team head coach Hugo Broos announced that Stellenbosch FC defender Fawaaz Basadien will captain the team when Bafana Bafana hosts Tanzania in a friendly in Polokwane on Friday evening.

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The decision comes just under seven months after Basadien made his international debut during a 2-0 win over Uganda in November, and after an impressive domestic season in which he scored eight goals and recorded seven assists for Stellenbosch across all competitions.

“I did not expect it to come so soon, but at the same time, I’m honoured and privileged to be captain of the national team,” the 28-year-old told the media, as reported by SABC Sport. “…It is something you dream about growing up as a footballer.”

To date, Basadien has won four senior caps for South Africa and was part of the squad that recently secured qualification for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which is set to get underway in December in Morocco.

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The international friendly between South Africa and Tanzania will kick off at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane at 19h30. Basadien, alongside club teammates Ashley Cupido and Thabo Moloisane, are the Stellenbosch players who might be in action.