15 November 2025 – Midfield maestro Teboho Mokoena has come a long way in his eight years with the South African senior men’s national team, Bafana Bafana.
Few would have noticed when he ran out on his debut against Southern Africa neighbours Botswana in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier played at the Francistown Stadium on 15 July 2017.
Born in Bohlokong, Bethlehem, in the Free State, Mokoena’s first run in national team colours came under then Bafana Bafana mentor Stuart Baxter, with the team winning 2-0 away from home.
He was 20 at the time and in the books of SuperSport United, having come through Matsatsantsa’s youth academy.
“Mrembula” has gone from strength to strength over the years, and he’s now on the brink of reaching a half century of caps. Mokoena reached 50 caps today after coach Hugo Broos started him against Zambia in an international friendly match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha this afternoon. He joined the likes of Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane and Percy Tau, who are among the players who achieved the half a century feat in recent times.
Mokoena has nine international goals and his first came in the 6-0 thumping of Seychelles at the FNB Stadium in October 2018, which was a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
One of the highlights of his international career is certainly playing a key role in helping Bafana Bafana qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Bafana Bafana’s third-place finish at the last edition of the AFCON will also live long in the memory.
At just 28 years old, Mokoena still has plenty to offer and if his workrate is anything to go by, there’s still more to come.
TEBOHO MOKOENA FACT FILE
Born: 24 January, 1997
Place of Birth: Bohlokong, Bethlehem, Free State
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Position: Central Midfielder
Caps: 50
Goals: 9
National team debut: v Botswana, African Nations Championship [CHAN], 15 July, 2017.
Last game played: v Rwanda, FIFA World Cup Qualifier, 14 October, 2025.
South African Football: Lucas Radebe is one of the most famous players to have represented Bafana Bafana.
Gutzd
The All Blacks perform the traditional Māori war dance, called the Haka, before each match. The Haka serves as a display of strength, unity, and respect for their opponents. The most famous version performed by the team is called “Ka Mate,” although they have also introduced other versions, such as “Kapa o Pango.”
True Sweetness
Sport Trivia: Ghana boycotted the Olympic Games in 1976, in protest at the participation of which country? Answer: New Zealand – The 1976 Games were held in Montreal, Canada. The Ghanaian team, along with almost 30 other African nations, joined in a boycott of the Games to protest at New Zealand\’s All Blacks rugby team having toured South Africa under apartheid.