Dolly’s Determination: Fighting For A Spot In Bafana Bafana’s 2023 AFCON Squad

Kaizer Chiefs winger Keagan Dolly is determined to break back into the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The 30-year-old has been dropped by head coach Hugo Broos since the France and Guinea friendlies, having featured only four times under the Belgian coach out of his 23 senior international caps.

Dolly has struggled for consistency in the national team due to injuries and lack of playing time during his four years in France with Montpellier. His return to the DStv Premiership with Chiefs was seen as a way to regain the form that made him one of the most fearsome attackers and creative players in local football. However, within the Amakhosi struggles this season, not a single player from the squad made the recent team that qualified for AFCON after the double-header against Liberia for the first time in the club’s history.

Despite this setback, Dolly remains focused on his ambitions of representing his country and helping it qualify for major tournaments.

“I’ve always wanted to represent my country and I still want to do that, it’s always an ambition of mine to help the country qualify for major tournaments, you know, and that’s still in me,” Dolly said. “But look, we’re focused on Kaizer Chiefs and the game this weekend. We’re happy the boys qualified, we’re happy we’re going to AFCON, and we don’t know what’s going to happen next. Whoever makes it needs to make sure we go there and do the country proud.”

With around 10 months to go before the continental showpiece, Dolly was non-committal to comment on winning back Broos’ faith but stated that he will give 100% to help his nation, should he be given the nod again.

“If I happen to make the team, I make it, I will give my best if I don’t, I’ve said that it gives me some time as well to spend with my family,” he added. “I’m at a stage of my life where I want to give my best to Kaizer Chiefs and if I do go to Bafana, I do and I’ll give my best.”

Unfortunately, Dolly has not appeared for Bafana Bafana in the AFCON finals, suffering an injury prior to the 2019 edition despite then-coach Stuart Baxter leaving his decision until the last minute. If he can’t improve his game, Dolly might miss the event in Ivory Coast after Bafana qualified by beating Liberia in Monrovia on Tuesday.

Dolly has scored 13 goals and registered 10 assists in 53 games since joining the Soweto giants in July 2021. He remains determined to continue to improve his game and make a meaningful contribution to both his club and national team.