Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice and delivered an influential all-round display as Bafana Bafana began their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 5-0 victory over Eritrea.
The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise attacking midfielder opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing calmly inside the penalty area after being played through by Oswin Appollis.
Mofokeng added a second shortly before half-time. He dribbled past two Eritrea defenders before driving his shot into the corner, giving South Africa a commanding lead at the interval.
His contribution extended well beyond his two goals. Mofokeng completed the match with six shots, four dribbles, three key passes, three interceptions, 10 recoveries and 95 touches.
He won all seven of his ground duels and completed all four of his dribbles. His passing accuracy was 81%, while his three key passes demonstrated his ability to create opportunities for his team-mates.
The figures reflected his influence across the pitch. Mofokeng posed a consistent threat in attack through his shooting and dribbling, while also contributing defensively with interceptions, recoveries and his perfect record in ground duels.
For manager Pitso Mosimane, the performance offered further encouragement from one of South Africa’s most promising attacking players. Although Mofokeng’s two goals were the headline contribution, his overall display showed how effectively he affected the game in several areas.
Rapid rise with Bafana Bafana
Mofokeng made his senior international debut in June 2024, aged 19, coming on as a substitute during South Africa’s 3-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory over Zimbabwe.
His progress soon led to him being handed the iconic No. 10 jersey and selected for major tournaments, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He was initially used mainly as an impact substitute, but quickly demonstrated an ability to alter the tempo of matches and add creativity when Bafana Bafana needed it.
The 19-year-old has since become a regular international performer. The match against Eritrea took his tally to 17 caps and three senior goals for South Africa.
Mofokeng’s first senior international goal came in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, in which he was also named Man of the Match.
