South Africa's return to the World Cup after 16 years is a big deal for the country, but it could also be a defining moment for a new generation of players. This Bafana Bafana squad is younger and more dynamic than the one that bowed out at home in 2010, and several of the names Hugo Broos has been building his team around are at exactly the right age to announce themselves on the biggest stage in football.
Fans following every kick through Virgin Bet South Africa will want to know who to watch when Group A gets underway in June.
Oswin Appollis
Oswin Appollis is 24 years old and has had one of the most remarkable stories in South African football in recent years. He came close to walking away from the game altogether, bouncing around youth set-ups at Cape Town Spurs, SuperSport United, and the University of Pretoria without breaking through.
His family convinced him to return, and he signed for Polokwane City, rediscovered his form, and forced his way into the Bafana squad. He has since joined Orlando Pirates and has been one of the standout players in the Betway Premiership this season, contributing two goals and four assists in 15 league appearances.
His pace and ability to beat defenders in tight spaces make him one of the most dangerous wide players in the group stage. He registered four assists in World Cup qualifying and is expected to start every game in June.
Relebohile Mofokeng
Relebohile Mofokeng is 21 years old and has become one of the most exciting attacking players in South African football, capable of playing on the wing or as a number 10. He came through the ranks at Orlando Pirates, and his first senior Bafana goal came against Lesotho in World Cup qualifying.
- Zimbabwean migrants making it big in South Africa
- Zimbabwean migrants making it big in South Africa
- Let sport unite us: ED
- The leading South Africa online Casino guide
Keep Reading
He has continued to grow under Broos, earning more responsibility with each tournament, and is expected to be a key figure in June. European clubs have been tracking him for some time, and a strong showing in Group A could be the moment that finally opens that door.
Mohau Nkota
Mohau Nkota is 21 years old and already playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Ettifaq, where he has lined up alongside players of the calibre of Gini Wijnaldum and Moussa Dembele.
He came through at Orlando Pirates and made his senior Bafana debut in June 2025 before earning his move to Saudi Arabia just weeks later on the back of seven goals in 39 appearances for the club. He featured in the last four World Cup qualifiers that secured South Africa's place in the tournament.
South African legend Shaun Bartlett, the country's second-highest all-time scorer with 29 goals, has publicly challenged Nkota to score two goals at the World Cup. Whether he can deliver on that is one of the most compelling storylines heading into the tournament.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Mbekezeli Mbokazi is 21 years old and now plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer after an impressive rise through the ranks at Orlando Pirates. He is expected to start at centre-back for South Africa alongside Siyabonga Ngezana, and his composure on the ball from the back is one of the more underrated aspects of how Broos wants Bafana to play.
At his age, a strong World Cup would put him firmly on the radar of clubs in Europe's bigger leagues. He has already shown at AFCON that he can handle high-pressure international football without looking out of place, and the World Cup will be a far bigger test of that.
Shandre Campbell
Shandre Campbell is 20 years old and plays for Club Brugge in Belgium, one of the most consistently competitive clubs in European football. He made his move from the South African Premier Division to the Belgian Pro League after just one season in the top flight, which says everything about the level of talent he possesses.
He is still working his way into the picture under Broos and may not start every game, but his inclusion in the squad would give South Africa a genuinely exciting option from the bench with the energy and directness to change a match. At 20, the World Cup could prove to be his launchpad.
