South Africa-based players shine in World Cup qualifiers
A host of Premier Soccer League players headed out across the continent this week to represent their countries in World Cup qualifying action, on top of the 19 home-based players in the 23-man South African squad.
We take a look at how they have performed in the colours of their respective countries:
Betway Premiership
Isima Watenga from Golden Arrows had a horror outing for Uganda against Mozambique in Cairo on Thursday, being caught early by a curling corner kick that put the Mambas ahead. His error also led to the second goal and he was taken off at halftime. Uganda went on to lose 3-1.
Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare was on the bench for African champions Ivory Coast as they beat Burundi 1-0 in Meknes, Morocco.
SuperSport United striker Abubeker Nassir was on the field for the first time in 11 months as he started for Ethiopia in their 2-0 defeat to Egypt in Casablanca, Morocco. He has constantly been injured since a substitute appearance for old club Mamelodi Sundowns against Sekhukhune United last April.
Fiacre Ntwari kept goal for Rwanda as they lost top place in group C as they were beaten 2-0 by Nigeria in Kigali while Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali was in the other goal and kept a clean sheet for the Super Eagles.
Mission Kigali done. Onto the Next One 🇳🇬 🦅 pic.twitter.com/MfVhxfnrJc
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 21, 2025
Thabo Makhale of Chippa United was the only Basotho player from the Betway Premiership who featured for Lesotho as they lost 2-0 to South Africa in Polokwane on Friday.
Polokwane City goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga is the long-standing deputy to Spanish-based Jesus Owono in goal for Equatorial Guinea, and was on the bench for Friday’s 2-0 home win over Sao Tome e Principe in Malabo.
Richards Bay attacker Justice Figuaredo had several chances to score for Eswatini as they held Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to a goalless draw at Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday.
— EFA (@eswatinifa) March 19, 2025
Veteran defender Brian Onyango from Stellenbosch has come out of international retirement to play for Benni McCarthy as the ex-Bafana star began his new job in charge of the Harambee Stars with a 3-3 draw away against Gambia in the Ivory Coast. Ian Otieno from Richards Bay saved a first-half penalty as he got the call in goal ahead of Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), who was on the bench.
Prins Tjiueza from Cape Town City scored for Namibia as they kept alive their qualification hopes in group H with a 1-0 away win over Malawi. It was his first goal since September. Namibia lined up with Edward Maova of Lamontville Golden Arrows in goal, the AmaZulu fullback Riaan Hanamub, winger Deon Hotto from Orlando Pirates and Aprocius Petrus (Cape Town City), and they were captained by Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Coming off the bench was Elmo Kambindu from AmaZulu, while Loydt Kazapua (Sekhukhune) was the backup goalkeeper.
A huge moment for our Prins! 👑🇳🇦
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) March 21, 2025
Our No 21 scored the winner as Namibia defeated Malawi to stay unbeaten in their World Cup Qualification group#FIFAWCQ2026 pic.twitter.com/EvyEg7vyfY
Marumo Gallants striker Frank Mhango led the attack for Malawi when they hosted Namibia in Lilongwe on Thursday but was taken off early in the second half of the 0-1 defeat.
A mistake from the 39-year-old Washington Arubi of Gallants saw Zimbabwe slip behind early against Benin in Durban on Thursday but they recovered for a 2-2 draw. Divine Lunga from Sundowns picked up a booking as he played the full 90 minutes while SuperSport United’s Terrence Dzvukamanja came on for the last six minutes.
Mozambique recalled Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson to their squad after his long-term injury and he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Uganda in Cairo.
Motsepe Foundation Championship
Marcel Dandjinou from JDR Stars took over as first-choice goalkeeper for Benin during last year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and kept his place for Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe. He made a massive save to deny Knowledge Musona after Zimbabwe had come from 2-0 down. Next up is Bafana Bafana on Tuesday in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast.
Lesotho had two players from Orbit College – goalkeeper and captain Sekhoane Moerane and veteran Tshwarelo Bereng – in the side that lost to South Africa at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday.
Namibia used Joslin Kamatuka from MFC leaders Durban City and Bethuel Muzeu of Black Leopards as second-half substitutes in their 1-0 away win over Malawi. Ndisiro Kamaijanda from Highbury was among the substitutes.
ABC Motsepe League
Lesotho used Mpheni Home Defenders’ Fusi Matlabe as a makeshift right back in the 2-0 loss to Bafana Bafana in Polokwane on Friday.
