Khumalo returns to South Africa squad

Published Aug. 27, 2013 10:31 a.m. ET

foxsports

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund recalled former captain and England-based defender Bongani Khumalo on Tuesday as the 2010 World Cup host country hangs on to slim hopes of making the 2014 tournament.

Khumalo returned to the Bafana Bafana squad having last played at the African Cup in February and after missing all his country's World Cup qualifiers this year.

Igesund said the return of Khumalo, who is on loan at Doncaster Rovers from Tottenham, meant he had the ''strongest possible squad'' for the final qualifying group game against Botswana on Sept. 7. To make Africa's decisive 10-team World Cup playoffs, South Africa needs to beat Botswana and hope that Ethiopia drops points to Central African Republic.

Igesund said ''I am confident we will beat Botswana with the team I have chosen.''