Five Most Capped Bafana Bafana Players

Bafana Bafana are hosting Liberia in group K’s at Orlando Stadium on Friday 24th March at 18:00. Some players are likely to make their first debut for Bafana Bafana, players such as Cassius Mailula who have been unbelievable at club level. Here we look at the most capped Bafana Bafana player.

Here is the top 5 most capped Bafana Bafana player below:

5: Benni McCarthy (80)

The Bafana Bafana leading goal scorer has 80 caps with 31 goals under his belt, he made his debut against the Netherlands in 1997. There is no doubt that Benni is the most accomplished striker to don the national team jersey‚ he was named Player of the Tournament in the 1998 continental finals‚ contributing seven goals in all as Bafana finished second behind Egypt. He remains the only player to net an international hat-trick for Bafana. His final cap lasted just 11 minutes when he was recalled by Gordon Igesund against Brazil in 2012.

4: Siyabonga Bhele Nomvete (82)

The KZN-born superstar played his professional football till the age of 40 at the club level‚ and he netted 16 goals in 82 caps for Bafana. He played at four Afcon finals between 2000 and 2006‚ but his career looked over a year later as other options were preferred. However‚ his rejuvenated form saw him selected for the 2010 World Cup‚ where he played in the 2-1 win over France. His final cap was against Gabon‚ 15 June‚ 2012

3: Siphiwe Tshabalala (89)

Shabba made his debut in the Bafana Bafana squad that went to the 2006 Afcon finals under Ted Dumitru‚ which proved a disaster with zero points and zero goals‚ Tshabalala was perhaps the finest selection made for that tournament. He would go on to cement a regular place and earn a reputation for spectacular goals‚ none more so than his World Cup opener against Mexico in 2010. The Kaizer Chiefs legend played his last game for Bafana Bafana against Senegal‚ 10 November‚ 2017.

2: Itu Khune (90)

Khune earned his 90th cap against Seychelles on his last cap on the 16th of October‚ 2018‚ moving him past Tshabalala on the list and making him comfortably the most-capped goalkeeper for the national side after Andre Arendse. Khune has been Bafana’s undisputed number one for the last decade and might have topped 100 caps already were it not for injuries that have kept him sidelined for long spells. His distribution remains world-class and a real attacking weapon for Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana.

1: Aaron Mokoena (107)

Mbazo was the youngest player to feature for the national side when he made his debut against Botswana in the Cosafa Cup aged 18 years‚ two months and 26 days‚ a record that has since been surpassed by Mkhanyiseli Siwahla. He enjoyed a long and successful career in Europe‚ but never shirked the responsibility of coming home to play for SA‚ a stance that boosted his number of caps. Mokoena played his last game against Sierra Leone‚ 10 October‚ 2010 and also captained Bafana on 63 occasions‚ including at the 2010 World Cup.