Relebohile Mofokeng: Why Orlando Pirates starboy risks missing AFCON 2025

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos explained in October how he highly rates Orlando Pirates forward Relebohile Mofokeng and his desire to stick by him.

Broos waxed lyrical about the 21-year-old’s qualities, saying his dip in form is as a result of transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Pirates before it fell through.

The Bafana coach went ahead to say he would not drop Mofokeng and will instead try to help him regain his best form as he is an integral member of his team.

However, different circumstances are conspiring to lock Mofokeng out of the national team and there could be nothing Broos would do if it continues like this for the Pirates forward.

Mofokeng’s form a cause for concern

For starters, Mofokeng is not the same player that set the PSL alight last season, scoring 12 goals while providing 15 assists, as he has been slow off the blocks this term with no goal and just one created for his teammates in 12 appearances in 2025-26.

That poor run of form has led to questions over whether the transfer speculation turned his focus and it is the one thing Broos promised to help him overcome.

However, there could be nothing Broos does if Mofokeng continues to have fitness problems while his form does not improve, when others in his position are lighting it up.

Rele has missed the last five games for Pirates due to an injury sustained at the start of October and is in line to miss the sixth on Wednesday evening when the Buccaneers take on Golden Arrows. In his absence, others are grabbing their chances.

Rele faces strong competition from other wingers  

At Pirates, Oswin Appollis, one of Broos’ key men, Tshepang Moremi and Kamogelo Sebelebele are thriving on the wings, while Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala is making a strong case, especially after his brace of goals and assists on Tuesday.

There is also Mfundo Vilakazi, another Chiefs winger, who has been impressing in recent matches, and if you consider that Saudi-based duo Mohau Nkota and Elias Mokwana are also angling for a place in the national team, and Mofokeng has a massive problem.

All the aforementioned have already had an impact at their clubs with goals and assists while Mofokeng is still waiting and if he does not get back fit and firing this month, the Pirates starboy could find himself watching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on TV at home and not one of the actors in Morocco.

Can Pirates star quickly get back to his best?

That would be a huge disappointment but following what has been witnessed during Broos’ tenure, selection is based on merit and the veteran Belgian tactician would find it hard to overlook other deserving players in favour of Mofokeng, even if he has given him assurances.

Recent signs have not been encouraging for the Pirates forward as while he was called up by Broos in September, he did not feature in World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria, while his injury locked him out of October and November international matches.

With AFCON 2025 the next big thing, it remains to be seen if the School of Excellence graduate will work his way into the Bafana Bafana squad or if he will give Broos an easy selection option.

November is therefore a big month for Rele.