Percy Tau will become the 36th player to reach the 50-cap milestone for South Africa if he plays for Bafana Bafana in their World Cup qualifier against Benin in Abidjan on Tuesday.
Tau competed in his first game for South Africa in some nine months against Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday and drew praise from coach Hugo Broos for his efforts in the 2-0 win, which put the team top of the Group C standings as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The 30-year-old Tau missed the entire 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign between September and November last year as his club career at Al Ahly of Egypt waned. He has since moved to play club football in Qatar.
Broos said Tau had found his old rhythm and although he did not score against Lesotho, he had worked hard for the team.
Neil Tovey was the first player to reach 50 caps for South Africa and 34 have followed him, the last being current Bafana captain Ronwen Williams.
South Africa’s 2010 World Cup captain Aaron Mokoena remains the country’s most capped international and only player to reach 100 caps.
Here is the list of the most capped South African internationals
107 - Aaron Mokoena
91- Itumeleng Khune
89 - Siphiwe Tshabalala
82 - Siyabonga Nomvete
80 - Benedict McCarthy
74 - Shaun Bartlett
73 - Delron Buckley, John Moshoeu
72 - Bernard Parker
70 - Lucas Radebe
67 - Andre Arendse, Sibusiso Zuma
66 - Helman Mkhalele, Teko Modise
62 - Mark Fish, MacBeth Sibaya, Steven Pienaar
58 - Dean Furman, Phil Masinga
55 - Siboniso Gaxa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane
54 - Kagisho Dikgacoi
53 - Thulani Hlatshwayo, Anele Ngcongca
52 - Katlego Mphela, Neil Tovey
51 - Tsepo Masilela, Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane
50 - Doctor Khumalo