Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi has made a surprise return to action after recovering from an injury that was initially expected to keep him out for the remainder of the MLS season.
The Chicago Fire defender suffered a severe tear to his left thigh during training last month and subsequently underwent surgery in Finland.
Following the injury, Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter and Mbokazi’s agent indicated that the defender was unlikely to play again this season. However, his recovery progressed faster than expected.
Mbokazi returned to the starting lineup on Saturday and helped Chicago Fire secure a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC, marking his first appearance since suffering the injury.
His return comes much earlier than anticipated, with many expecting the 23-year-old to only return to competitive action next year.
The injury also ruled Mbokazi out of the latest Bafana Bafana squad for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Pitso Mosimane’s side began their qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Guinea at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Bafana will next face Eritrea before taking on African giants Egypt in their upcoming qualifiers.
Mbokazi to return to Bafana squad
With the AFCON qualifiers continuing over the coming months, Mbokazi could now put himself back in contention for a place in Mosimane’s squad.
In his absence, Mosimane partnered Olethu Makhanya and Ime Okon at the heart of the Bafana defence against Guinea. The duo produced a solid performance, but Mbokazi’s return could provide the coach with another option in central defence.
If he maintains his fitness and form, one of Makhanya or Okon could face competition for their place when the Chicago Fire defender returns to the national team setup. Mbokazi has been crucial for Bafan in the past 12 to 16 months.