Prominent among those dropped was Spain-based defender Nasief Morris of Recreativo Huelva. Santana said on Thursday that Morris had failed to abide by the team's code of conduct, but would not elaborate.

Other players omitted include Belgium-based midfielder Mosilo Modubi, Moeneeb Josephs and Thulasizwe Mbuyane of the Orlando Pirates, Mzuvukile Tom of Golden Arrows and Israel-based midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi of Maccabi Netanya.

Santana says he hopes his squad "will now focus 100 percent, what is left for me is to try to find the best 11 to face Iraq."

South Africa, which plays Poland in a friendly on Saturday, will play the opening match of the tournament against Iraq on June 14.

South Africa faces New Zealand, Iraq and Spain in Confederations Cup Group A.

While Bafana Bafana has a home-crowd advantage, the team has struggled for years and is not expected to do well in the tournament, a warmup for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Rowen Fernandez (Armenia Bielefeld).

Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United).

Midfielders: Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Benson Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates).

Strikers: Bernard Parker (Red Star Belgrade), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa), Katlego Mashego (Orlando Pirates).