Mofokeng joins Mokoena in exclusive club as Mosimane makes plea Bafana ‘magician’ 

Bafana Bafana forward Relebohile Mofokeng made a little piece of history during his heroic display in the 5-0 thrashing of Eritrea.

Mofokeng was among the star men as Pitso Mosimane’s side put the African minnows to the sword, scoring two goals, both netted in the first half.

The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise star opened the scoring with a clinical first-half brace, finding the net in the 19th and 45th minutes courtesy of pinpoint through-balls from Oswin Appollis.

Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh then completed the rout in the second half. With his brace, Mofokeng became the sixth Bafana player to score a first-half double in an AFCON qualifier since Teboho Mokoena’s 12^th and 27^th minute strikes against Congo Brazzaville in October 2024 as per Opta Jabu.

Who else is on the list with Rele and Tebza?

Other players who have achieved this are Appollis, who scored in the 17^th and 45^th minutes against South Sudan in September 2024, as well as Lyle Foster’s 11^th and 22^nd minute goals past Liberia in March 2023.

Thamsanqa Gabuza was the second to do it, when he netted in the 30^th and 38^th minutes against The Gambia in June 2016, coming 11 years after Sibusiso Zuma scored in the 23^rd and 33^rd minutes, against Chad in June 2007.

Mofokeng’s display has earned him high praise from Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, who termed him a ‘magician’ who should now make scoring for the national team a regular occurrence.

“Rele is a top player and he is showing why he has gone to Europe and is scoring in Europe,” said Mosimane.

Mosimane issues demands to Mofokeng

“He is not only scoring for us. It is good we have got Rele back and that is the most important must score goals and he is scoring goals.

“We know what he can do with the ball, he is a magician on the ball. Clever, intelligent player but I was telling him; ‘you need to score goals’ and number 10 scores goals.

“You don’t only give assists and to play between the lines, you have to score goals because we have the opportunity but he is very intelligent.

“You don’t teach him anything, he is just God’s gift. What a brilliant player!” added the Bafana boss.