The youngster joined the South American heavyweights as part of a collaborative partnership with his local club. He impressed during trials that lasted for two months before he was co-opted in a move that has been welcomed by those who developed him.
South Africa made qualifying for the global football fiesta a mammoth task after dropping two points against a team already out of contention in this campaign. That leaves Hugo Broos' side depending on their rivals to help them secure an automatic ticket to USA/Canada/Mexico.
As Bafana Bafana's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes are on the brink of collapse, we look at key moments that led to the near-certain failure to qualify despite a campaign that seemed destined to end with the team competing in North America next year.
The Bucs star was automatically ruled out for the game against Amavubi after receiving his marching orders late against Zimbabwe. His booking was a double setback for Bafana, who were desperate to win and collect crucial qualifying points.
The Warriors were determined to stop Hugo Broos' men from getting maximum points in the recent meeting. The COSAFA rivals met in Durban, but it was the visitors who came with hopes of getting maximum points to keep alive their hope of competing with the best in the world. The hosts had already been eliminated and stood no chance of making it to the summit.
The West Africans are still in the race for the prestigious global competition after collecting a vital win in their recent Group C outing. However, they will still have to rely on Rwanda to do them a favour by beating Hugo Broos in the pool for them to take the top spot. Only group winners are guaranteed a position in the tournament to be played next year.
South Africa's hopes of returning to the global football competition is slowly fading after failing to secure maximum points against the Warriors. They fired blanks against their northern neighbours who restricted them to a goalless evening in Durban. Their Belgian coach is finding it difficult to stomach what transpired on Friday.
The Orlando Pirates assistant captain put a decent shift on Friday as South Africa played their COSAFA rivals hoping to get maximum points in their bid to get a ticket to represent the continent in the prestigious global competition. However, he was booked twice late in the game as his team struggled to break down the determined Warriors in Durban.
The Buccaneers centre-back was sent off following a heated moment with the Warriors winger Tawanda Maswanhise as South Africa desperately pushed for an equaliser against their COSAFA rivals. It was an emotional end to the match which saw Hugo Broos' men failing to collect maximum points in their own backyard.
After being frustrated by the Warriors, Bafana's hopes now largely depend on the results from Nigeria and Benin. The Super Eagles will host their West African counterparts in a match that carries a lot of stakes in determining the winner of the group.
After their points were deducted by FIFA, South Africa needed to win against the Warriors in order to boost their chances to qualify for the global showpiece. However, they were unable to get the crucial points against their group opponents, who were disadvantaged after Knowledge Musona was sent off.
The former Cape Town City forward has struggled to impress the South Africa national team coach even when he was in top goal-scoring form. His situation with the Belgian became worse when he moved to North Africa, where he could not replicate the form that saw him being scouted from the PSL. Now, his father gives him some advice.
Although he was heavily linked with Amakhosi, the former Mamelodi Sundowns star ended up signing for Buccaneers. The Bafana midfielder has gone on to stamp authority in Bucs' first team despite the competition for starting berths in the team.
South Africa have a daunting task in their pursuit for the 2026 World Cup ticket when they face their neigbours in the COSAFA derby. While the Warriors have no chance to dine with the big boys, their visitors are aware that anything apart from three points might cost them. It explains why the fans are anxious ahead of the Friday outing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The unfortunate deduction of three points by FIFA for fielding Teboho Mokoena when he was suspended dropped South Africa to second in Group C on goal difference. But qualification is still in reach if the team wins against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, and can score a few goals while doing it.
With the national team's bid to reach the quadrennial competition's finals in 2026 hanging in the balance after several recent setbacks, GOAL examines the reasons why South Africa has what it takes to win their remaining two matches to top Group C and qualify directly for the tournament in June next year.
The former Cameroon coach was forced to make another change to his squad after another key player was ruled out. To fill the gap, the tactician considered the Sea Robber, whom he believes is up to the task.
South Africa are preparing for two final qualifiers under considerable pressure given that they must fight and compensate for the points lost through deduction. However, a retired star has given them a strategy that they can use and collect six more points.
Coach of the South Africa national side has explained the reason why the two are no longer part of his team after they both left Stellenbosch to join the Brazilians this year. Now with both Masandawana stars struggling for regular football they have lost out on their national team jerseys and face missing the continental finals in Morocco.
This fan urges South Africa not to rely on results elsewhere in Group C but to go 'for the kill' in their own games to ensure Mzansi can enjoy their first appearance at the global tournament since hosting in 2010.
The Amavubi star has been the talk of the country since Sunday after his decision to defy the Amakhosi technical bench and refuse to be replaced by his rival.
In his characteristically blunt style the Belgian tactician pointed out the midfielder and defender were wrecking their AFCON and World Cup dreams by pursuing moves that led to them warming the bench instead of gaining valuable playing time.
The Bucs youngster has been ruled out after suffering an injury during their Carling Knockout Cup game against Siwelele. Ahead of the vital games, the Mofokeng absence is another setback that Bafana are facing, apart from the FIFA decision to deduct their points.
Rwanda
