South Africa coach Hugo Broos has suggested that Percy Tau may want to consider leaving Al Ahly for a club where he could be happier.
Broos announced his 23-man squad for the October matches against Congo, but Al Ahly winger Percy Tau was excluded from the list.
In a media statement, Broos explained that Tau was omitted due to personal circumstances, adding that it was up to the player to share details if he felt comfortable.
Tau, who was also excluded from South Africa’s September matches against Uganda and South Sudan, will miss both legs against Congo on the 11th and 15th of October.
When asked about Tau’s situation, Broos admitted: “I don’t know. I’ve seen things happening, and I will say again, after AFCON, people criticized him unfairly. He wasn’t the standout or decisive player, but he did his job.”
Broos explained that Tau requested not to be considered for the Congo qualifiers, stating: “He isn’t with us due to personal reasons. He asked me not to call him up because he’s not ready to come due to some personal issues. I can’t force him when he’s not ready.
“Something has happened with him, and maybe he needs to find another club where he might be happier. A team with fewer problems, where we can see the Percy Tau we knew from a few years ago.
“We know Percy’s qualities and he can help us a lot, but we also have to be honest. When we evaluate his performances for the national team, they don’t match the potential we know he has.
“He can offer more, and I’m sure of it, but there’s always something holding him back, which makes it difficult for him to deliver big performances.”
South Africa currently has four points from their first two matches in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. Two wins in the upcoming games against Congo will likely secure their place in the tournament.