Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy is set for showdown talks with South Africa coach Joel Santana today after he failed to report for national duty on Monday.

McCarthy was the only player in the 25-man squad who failed to attend a training camp in Johannesburg, making him a major doubt for Bafana Bafana's opening 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

No reason was given for McCarthy's absence, with team manager Sipho Nkumane saying that the 30-year-old had cited "personal reasons" for his no-show.

And according to a South African Football Association (SAFA) media release today the nature of McCarthy's unavailability "remains confidential".

The statement also revealed the player will be in camp today, where he will hold "face-to-face" discussions with new coach Santana.

McCarthy had to be talked out of an 18-month international exile by South Africa's previous coach Carlos Alberto Parreira last year.