Boost for Bafana Bafana as midfielder returns to action | OneFootball

Sithole returns to competitive action in Portugal

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The South African national team has been boosted by the availability of midfielder Sphephelo Sithole, who has been sidelined for a prolonged period due to a long-term injury sustained on national duty last year.

‘Yaya’, as the player is fondly known in his native country, has been out of action for almost a year as he was stretchered off due to a horrific leg-break injury during Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifier clash against South Sudan in September 2024.

As a result, Sithole was limited to only two appearances for Gil Vicente throughout the entire 2024/25 campaign. The player was on a season-long loan to Vicente from then-second division side Tondela, who returned to the elite league after a three-year absence.

Prior to the new season, the Bafana international had been subject to transfer speculation linking him with a move to Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs. However, he eventually stayed put in Portugal in the wake of his parent club’s promotion.

Now, Sithole made his return to competitive action as he was brought in as a second half substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Benfica in the Primera Liga last Saturday. The midfield maestro lasted 45 minutes plus stoppage time on the pitch.

This will be a big boost for Bafana head coach Hugo Broos as the player brings international experience, calmness and stability in the heart of the midfield, with the 2025 AFCON set to be staged in Morocco, looming.

Sithole was excluded in the recent preliminary squad that is set to face Lesotho and Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Bloemfontein next month. The 26-year-old will be eager to raise his fitness levels in a bid secure a spot in the Belgian mentor’s plans for the major tournaments ahead.