South African Football Association [SAFA] president Danny Jordaan has hailed defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s return from injury as a “good problem” for Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane ahead of next month’s back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Kenya.
The Chicago Fire FC centre-back returned to competitive action in late September 2026 following a thigh tear and subsequent surgery that kept him sidelined for nearly three months.
Mbokazi made his official comeback on 27 September, playing the full match and helping his Major League Soccer [MLS] outfit keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory away at Charlotte FC.
The 21-year-old was notably absent during the previous FIFA international window when Mosimane’s charges squared off against Guinea and Eritrea in their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, as well as an international friendly match against Egypt.
SAFA PRESIDENT DANNY JORDAAN EXPECTING MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI TO ADD VALUE TO BAFANA SQUAD
Speaking during SAFA‘s ordinary meeting in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Sunday — where the National Executive Committee [NEC] elected new vice presidents — Jordaan expressed confidence that Mbokazi’s return will strengthen Bafana’s defensive options.
“We hope that Mbokazi will be fit, and will be back [in the national team]. I think it will give coach Pitso [Mosimane] a good problem, that he has many high quality defenders, which now will include Mbokazi. As well as other players who were injured and are returning to full fitness,” Jordaan said.
“We are all looking forward to a wonderful match [against Kenya] in November at Orlando Amstel Arena. Bafana must qualify for the World Cup. Also, Banyana Banyana must qualify for the World Cup. So, those are the long-term objectives of what we want to achieve.”
Bafana will host Benni McCarthy’s Kenya at Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Friday, 13 November 2026, with the kick off scheduled for 18h00.
The South African national team will then travel to Nairobi for the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November 2026.
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