Luther Singh is determined to force his way back into the South Africa national team ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The winger, who last earned a cap in late 2021, has been handed a fresh opportunity by head coach Pitso Mosimane as Bafana Bafana prepare to host Guinea in their Group D opener this Saturday.

Singh has 13 caps to his name but fell out of favour under former coach Hugo Broos. His recall comes after a move to Cypriot side AEL Limassol in 2024, where he has taken on the vice-captaincy. "It has been a long time since I’ve been part of the national team, but the dream was always the same," Singh said. "The goal was always the same: to work harder, work smarter and change many things for me to be able to come back and represent my country again."

Building on club form

His role at club level has been central to his resurgence. Singh believes the responsibility and respect shown by AEL Limassol has sharpened his focus. "I’m part of the captaincy at my club. I’m not the first captain, but I’m the vice-captain," he explained. "It shows that they see the hard work I’m putting in and that they respect and appreciate me." He added that the competitive nature of the Cypriot league provided the right environment to push for an international return.

The 27-year-old's career has included spells in Sweden, Portugal and Denmark before his move to Cyprus. He acknowledges the team's recent progress, which saw them finish second in their World Cup qualifying group with four points from three matches. "The past few years, the national team has been doing very well," Singh noted. "The players who were there represented the country very well, so we need to acknowledge that."

Immediate focus on Guinea

South Africa's immediate focus is the start of their AFCON qualification journey. After the home match against Guinea, they travel to a neutral venue in Cairo to face Eritrea on September 30. A friendly against Egypt follows on October 4. Singh is familiar with many in the full squad, which he says eases his reintegration. "I’ve played with many of the players before and I know everyone in the team, so it is easy to come back in," he said.

The team's recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses in their last five outings, a sequence that includes a 1-0 defeat to Canada in late June. They will be looking to start their AFCON qualifying campaign positively to build momentum. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule and see the full squad list on our fixtures and squad pages.

Singh's personal ambition remains firmly in Europe, but his immediate priority is seizing this chance with Bafana Bafana. "Like every footballer, you want to be part of the national team set-up, and I’m just grateful that I’ve got another opportunity to be here," he stated. "For sure, I will grab it with both hands." His next opportunity to impress comes in the match against Guinea at home this weekend.

Background and full detail: TribalFootball