South Africa face the Harambee Stars at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday 13 November before travelling to East Africa the following Tuesday.

Mosimane's side find themselves in first place in Group D of qualifying with six points from their opening two games.

Bafana edged Guinea 2-1 before thrashing Eritrea 5-0.

Guinea occupy second spot while Kenya and Eritrea both have a point apiece, but by virtue of being co-hosts of the tournament proper, McCarthy's men are spared the stress of needing to qualify.

That does, however, put more pressure on Bafana to secure top spot in the group, with only first place ensuring their progression.

Cutting his squad from 38 down to 27, Mosimane dropped Themba Zwane, Thakasani Mbanjwa, Nkosikhona Radebe, Khulumani Ndamane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aden McCarthy, Lebhang Maboe, Luke Le Roux, Devin Titus, Nqaba Xulu, Thapelo Maseko, Boitumelo Radiopane.

Siyanda Ndlovu has, meanwhile, been included after being left out of the preliminary squad, while Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lyle Foster make a return after missing out in the two recent qualifiers.

Mbokazi was sidelined through injury, while Foster was settling into his move to the Houston Dynamos.

Explaining his team selection, Mosimane said in the Citizen: "I need to give Mbokazi an opportunity, he did exceptionally well in the World Cup.

"[Aden] McCarthy has been doing well, I know that and if we had a friendly, like we had against Egypt last time, I would bring him. We have a good problem (with central defenders).

“Football works like that. We had a generation of strikers where Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett and Phil Masinga were all playing. We are facing that now with centre backs who are young. We are not drinking coffee. We watch Mbokazi every time he plays. I watch (Olwethu) Makhanya. He was player of the month in Scotland. He is on another level."

On Lyle Foster, he added: "Are we burying Lyle? Is he done? He is 25 years old, is he not a good player anymore?

"He scored in the AFCON and in World Cup qualifying. I am emotional because I like 'Mshishi' (Themba Zwane). I had to phone 'Mshishi' He is a professional, a role model, these boys learn from him."

"Ndlovu has been Man-of-the-Match three or four times. You can’t ignore that," added the Bafana boss.

Full Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss

Defenders

Aubrey Modiba, Samukele Kabini, Fawaaz Basadien, Thapelo Morena, Thabang Matuludi, Olwethu Makhanya, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole, Bathusi Aubaas, Brooklyn Poggenpoel.

Forwards

Iqraam Rayners, Lyle Foster, Cassius Mailula, Oswin Appollis, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews, Relebohile Mofokeng, Luther Singh, Tshepang Moremi, Siyanda Ndlovu

Pitso Mosimane dismisses Benni McCarthy's advantage ahead of Bafana clash