Warning for Kaizer Chiefs' Rushwin Dortley & Co as Manqoba Mngqithi tips Mamelodi Sundowns starlet to go to 2025 Afcon with Bafana Bafana - 'I have no doubt'

Malibongwe Khoza is in his debut Premier Soccer League season and is turning himself into a Mamelodi Sundowns regular.

The lanky central defender has managed to make seven appearances for Masandawana across all competitions and in the process scoring one goal.

He is in a team where he is competing for a starting spot with season centra-backs like Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Rivaldo Coetzee, Mosa Lebusa, Rushine de Reuck and sometimes Divine Lunga.

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi has tipped Khoza big and believes he can go to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Bafana Bafana.

“I’m very happy with Khoza,” Mngqithi said on SuperSport TV. 

“I think he’s developing into something big, and I can tell you now, if he continues the way he is, he has a very big chance of going to Afcon with the national team [Bafana Bafana]. I have no doubt.”

Khoza has never played for the national team at any level, unlike his fellow Masandawana starlets like Siyabonga Mabena, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Thapelo Maseko.

Now he is trying to break into the Bafana fold which already has two Sundowns centre-backs Mvala and Kekana who was dropped from the last national team camp.

To stake a claim in Bafana, Khoza will also have to shrug off the challenge of Orlando Pirates central defender Nkosinathi Sibiya, Siyabonga Ngezana and Kaizer Chiefs Rushwin Dortley who has turned himself into a regular.

It remains to be seen if Khoza will cement his place in the Sundowns starting lineup and attract the attention of Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

The Brazilians have, however, been rotating their starting lineups in most of their games and already have depth in central defence.