Patrick Mayo has accused Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos of prioritizing personal preferences over player performance in the squad selection for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mayo, who donned the national team jersey from 2000 to 2004, expressed his discontent in an interview with KickOff, shedding light on what he perceives as a flawed selection process by Broos. The 50-year-old football veteran asserted that the head coach seems to disregard players' on-field performance when making critical squad decisions.

The controversy centres around Broos' exclusion of Khanyisa Mayo, the current leading goal scorer in the DStv Premiership with an impressive seven goals. Instead, Broos opted for Evidence Makgopa, who has found the net only four times in 13 appearances, raising eyebrows within the football community.

"I'm seriously not happy with the selection," Mayo declared, emphasizing that deserving players were left out without valid reasons. He pointedly remarked, "It seems performance doesn't count."

While acknowledging Broos's preference for several players from Mamelodi Sundowns, Mayo maintained that the issue lies in the inclusion of Makgopa. He made it clear that his concern extends beyond his own son's omission, stating, "A lot of people have been asking why a top goalscorer is not there."

Mayo questioned the absence of notable players like Given Msimango and Fagrie Lakay, asserting that their recent stellar performances should have earned them spots in the squad bound for Ivory Coast.

Expressing scepticism about South Africa's chances in the tournament, Mayo predicted a premature exit, stating, "The way I see it, we will only play the three games and come back home. We won't make it to the group stages." He criticized the team's recent draw with Lesotho, suggesting that a more assertive victory should have been secured to demonstrate readiness for the upcoming challenging matches.

As the football community digests Mayo's scathing comments, it remains to be seen how Broos and the selected squad will respond to this prominent critique just before the tournament kicks off.

Patrick Mayo slams Bafana Bafana AFCON squad selection