Stellenbosch midfielder Jayden Adams has been dropped from the Bafana Bafana squad over what coach Hugo Broos has termed as bad behaviour.
Adams was expected to link up with the national team squad in Gqeberha on Sunday ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo, just a day after his team’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates which Steve Barker’s men lost 3-1.
However, even with his team-mate Fawaaz Basadien linking up with the Bafana Bafana squad, Adams was nowhere to be seen to the disappointment of Broos, who has acted quickly by dropping him from the team with Chippa United midfielder Sinoxolo Kwayiba taking his place.
Why has Broos cracked the whip on Adams?
“Jayden Adams is replaced by [Sinoxolo] Kwayiba – why? I will not give so much comment about that, but the behaviour of Jayden forced me to put him out of the team,” said Broos as per SABC.
“A good professional attitude is the – ja, if you ask something about a player, it's that they are professionals, so if I feel that a guy doesn't have that attitude, then for me it's done.
“He's not a guy who is 16, he's not an old player either, but if he has the attitude that he had, the only thing I can do is get him out of the group, because this is not what I want from players.
“In the past months, several times I said, ‘What a group I have.' I was so happy with the group – the right attitude, the right behaviour, professional, and everything you want.
The midfielder’s Bafana future now in doubt
“So, I can't afford to let someone in that doesn't have that attitude anymore, so it's up to Jayden now to think about it, on what he's going to do with his future.”
The incident now puts Adams’ Bafana Bafana future in doubt having been part of South Africa’s squad at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they finished third.
His exclusion comes at a time when South Africa are grappling with a crisis in midfield after Thalente Mbatha was ruled out due to injury and while Siphephelo Sithole is a long-term absentee.
