Foster, who plies his trade with relegated English Premier League side Burnley, missed the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year due to a mental illness but continued to play for his club.

Orlando Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng has also caught the eye of the national team head coach Hugo Broos and finds a place in the 36-man party.

The Belgian mentor will trim his squad to 23 players ahead of next month's all-important fixtures with Bafana currently second in the standings, one point behind Rwanda, one point ahead of Nigeria, Lesotho and Zimbabwe and two ahead of bottom-placed Benin.

Bafana take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria on 7 June at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, before hosting neighbours Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein four days later.

This will form part of their Group C campaign, with only the top team guaranteed of place at the 2026 World Cup that will be co-hosted in USA, Canada and Mexico.

Bafana 36-man preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs), Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu)

Defenders: Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Thabiso Monyane, Innocent Maela, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Tapelo Xoki (all Orlando Pirates), Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Terrence Mashego, Grant Kekana (all Sundowns), Given Msimango (Chiefs), Thabo Maloisane (Stellenbosch FC)

Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas (both Sundowns), Grant Margeman (SuperSport), Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch), Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal)

Forwards: Themba Zwane (Sundowns), Devin Titus, Iqraam Rayners (both Stellenbosch), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), Patrick Maswanganyi, Evidence Makgopa, Relebohile Mofokeng (all Pirates), Mlondi Mbanjwa, Tshepang Moremi (both AmaZulu), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Pery Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus)

Lyle Foster named in preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for World Cup qualifiers