The 20-year-old defender secured a reported $3 million (R50 million) transfer to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, but will join them only after representing South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations. He played his final match for Orlando Pirates in the Carling Knockout Cup final, helping the Buccaneers lift the trophy before this new chapter abroad.
The South Africans last tasted continental glory almost 30 years ago on home soil, and with a hard-earned bronze medal from the most recent showpiece in the Ivory Coast, the spotlight shifts back onto Bafana Bafana as the nation eagerly watches to see whether this squad can push further and revive their pursuit of AFCON supremacy.
The 20-year-old, fresh from captaining the Buccaneers to their second cup triumph, clinching the Carling Knockout Cup just months after a fourth consecutive MTN8, has come under fire from the Belgian coach as Bafana Bafana gear up for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from December 21.
The Buccaneers were rewarded with their impressive domestic form as they produced nine players for Hugo Broos' South Africa, who will be in Morocco from December 21 to challenge for the continental glory. The 20-year-old defender who recently sealed a move to the Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire is convinced Bucs players will play a starring role for the national team at the tournament.
The South African senior national team under coach Hugo is preparing for the biennial competition that is scheduled to start from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Having finished third in the 2023 edition, football lovers in Mzansi hope their team can go all the way to win their second continental crown but will be concerned over the fitness of the 28-year-old defender.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has emerged as one of the Buccaneers’ standout performers this season, consistently delivering influential displays in the middle of the park. His impressive form has earned him the trust of both the Soweto giants’ technical team and the national team coach. At 27, he looks rejuvenated and is playing some of the best football of his career.
A majority of countries on the continent are unhappy that the World Football Governing Body told clubs they can keep their players for up to a week before the prestigious nations' biennial competition that will be played in Morocco. A total of 24 teams, with South Africa among them, will be battling for the bragging rights.
Since co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze took charge following Nasreddine Nabi’s exit, Amakhosi fans have intensified their calls for management to appoint the decorated coach; a move many believe could stabilise the club, restore its competitive edge and fill one of South African football’s most demanding yet coveted roles.
The 29-year-old has been conspicuously missing from the Sea Robbers during matchdays, and his absence has only generated speculation around his future. Given that he is Bucs' prolific striker, many expected that he would remain a primary figure for the club, but that has not been the case. His coach has now addressed the issue and, in the process, explained why the attacker has not been used on a more regular basis.
The assistant coach has voiced frustration at FIFA’s ruling that clubs may delay releasing players until just before the Africa Cup of Nations. Moving away from the long‑standing policy of earlier release dates has sparked concern, with questions over fairness, respect and how such decisions impact preparation for Africa’s premier football tournament.
This will be the final friendly game for South Africa before they completely switch their focus to the Africa Cup of Nations. Already, Bafana have engaged in one pre-AFCON friendly game; they faced Zambia and defeated them by a 3-1 margin in November in Gqeberha. Hugo Broos has already named his 25-man final squad, and what now remains is to sharpen them further before the continental finals start later this month.
In the last transfer window, Bucs signed more than ten players, and that meant there would be stiff competition for starting positions. Some of the players who were regular starters under Jose Riveiro have found themselves snubbed at times, even when they are fit and available. Although Abdeslam Ouaddou has perfected a rotational policy to accommodate every member of his playing unit, even then, some players have been rarely involved.
The two tacticians have coached in the Premier Soccer League before, where they always created unwarranted drama during matches before leaving for North Africa. The duo faced each other for the first time in the Algerian top tier on Monday night, hoping to get a positive result in their bid to realise the set objectives for their respective clubs.
There have been calls for Bafana to play against the so-called top nations as part of the preparations for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Local football's governing body has managed to secure a mouthwatering match against one of the teams that will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as the final preparatory game for Hugo Broos' side.
The Moroccan-French tactician opened up about their biggest rivals' chances of winning the most coveted trophy in the country following the Buccaneers' Carling Knockout success in Polokwane. Ouaddou, who won the September-October PSL Coach of the Month accolade, also discussed the department which needs strengthening with one of Bucs' players likely to leave the club next month.
The Sea Robbers continue to celebrate their majority presence in the national team squad that is heading to Morocco. Out of the 25 players named for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, nine are from the Soweto giants, although Mbekezeli Mbokazi has signed for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Until recently, Masandawana dominated Bafana, but the Sea Robbers have displaced them as the majority contributor.
In a wide-ranging blog interview the former forward revealed his views on Chelsea's season so far and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament. While believing there are a number of teams who could go all the way at the tournament, the 2015 AFCON winner also pointed to Hugo Broos' team's chances of success.
The 24-year-old has experienced a career-changing run in the few months since joining the Sea Robbers, winning the MTN8 Cup and, more recently, the Carling Knockout Cup. After showcasing impressive form for his club, earning a call-up for the Zambia international friendly clash, and making it to the preliminary South Africa squad, there were hopes he would be part of the travelling team to Morocco—but that did not materialise.
The 20-year-old Bafana Bafana international has been excellent for both the Buccaneers and the national team despite making his debut in top football in March under the then Bucs tactician Jose Riveiro. He will now be playing in the Major League Soccer in the United States after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Soweto giants closed off their first half of the Premier Soccer League campaign on Sunday with a frustrating 0–0 draw against TS Galaxy. Despite putting up a commendable challenge throughout the match, they were unfortunate to walk away with just a single point.
The 21-year-old South Africa international has rediscovered his form in a critical time as the country hopes Hugo Broos' men will defy the odds to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be staged in Morocco from December 21 to January 18. The versatile attacker helped the Buccaneers win another trophy last weekend.
The forward has been finding the net with an impressive regularity recently, and his form has been picking up even though he was not named in South Africa's AFCON team. If he keeps finding the back of the net, then he will make himself hard to ignore, especially at a time when the World Cup finals lie ahead for Bafana. To do well in the global bonanza, Hugo Broos is expected to pick the best, and the forward only needs to maintain his form in Europe.
While he was in charge of the Saudi Pro League side, the tactician said he was interested in signing the South African star. However, due to challenges, the move did not materialise in the end. The experienced tactician also revealed that he is impressed by how Bucs have managed to sign deals with clubs from the Middle East despite the difficulties involved.
Given the regularity with which Hugo Broos has called him up, the Bafana forward is tipped to be among the players that will be taken to the global finals. This will be Nkota's biggest platform to showcase his talent to the world after his breakthrough season at Pirates. Now, a Mzansi legend, who starred in the 1998 finals in France, has thrown a challenge to him.
The 21-year-old has managed to reinvent himself after being discarded by Amakhosi, putting the Soweto giants under scrutiny for letting such a big talent slip away. While he has bounced back strongly from the Naturena setback, he is still chasing his major breakthrough on the international stage. Even though he earned a place in the preliminary squad for the 2025 AFCON, he has yet to firmly establish himself in the national team setup, but would be happy for the recognition.
The versatile attacker has peaked ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which is good news for coach Hugo Broos and the entire South Africa at large, owing to his impact on the pitch. Despite being just 21, the Bafana Bafana star has won the Buccaneers several domestic titles owing to his quality in the final third.
South Africa
