Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has praised midfield star Teboho Mokoena, who earned his 50th international cap this past weekend, describing him as one of the most important pillars in the national team setup.
Mokoena reached the milestone on Saturday when South Africa defeated Zambia 3-1 in a friendly match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Goals from Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota and Sphephelo Sithole sealed a convincing win for Bafana Bafana, giving Broos valuable insight into his squad ahead of next month’s final Africa Cup of Nations squad announcement for the tournament in Morocco.
Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule, a former teammate of Mokoena, produced an impressive performance by providing two assists. Zambia managed a late consolation via Sabobo Banda to make the scoreline more respectable.
“I congratulate him, certainly. Not everyone reaches 50 caps, and he will earn many more in the future. Teboho Mokoena has become one of the most important players in the South African national team,” Broos said.
Mokoena recently made headlines after FIFA docked Bafana Bafana three points for fielding him during the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho in March when he was meant to serve a suspension for accumulating two yellow cards.
Interestingly, his Bafana debut also came against Zambia in March 2018 under coach Stuart Baxter, when South Africa won through goals by Percy Tau and Lebo Mothiba.
The midfielder was a standout performer during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast—held later than scheduled—helping South Africa secure their first bronze medal in 24 years. Mokoena scored a stunning free kick in the round of 16 win over Morocco and was later named in the CAF Team of the Tournament alongside captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The 28-year-old is expected to play a crucial role once again when Bafana Bafana begin their 2025 AFCON campaign in Morocco, scheduled from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
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