Nkota relishing maiden AFCON as Broos’ backing fuels rising Bafana star

Mohau Nkota is excitedly anticipating his maiden appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals and is confident of doing well thanks largely to the backing of a crucial teammate.

Now plying his trade in the Saudi Arabian League for Al Ettifaq, the former Orlando Pirates attacker has established himself as a key member of Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana squad and is expected to play a major role in South Africa’s quest for the continental title, three decades after they were crowned African champions. And the winger, who has just turned twenty-one, is in no doubt he will play a pivotal role in Morocco.

“For me, I am very excited. I am going to be with the guys once again; to be with them one more time. So I am confident about the AFCON for me because the guys really help me (perform well for Bafana) a lot.”

Of particular help to Nkota, in allowing him to play his natural game of running at defenders, is right-back Khuliso Mudau, who made the Buccaneers Diski graduate feel at home in the squad from the outset.

“Guys like Khuliso Mudau, the first time I played with him he told me, ‘don’t come back, I will mark for you and I will pass you’,” Nkota beamed, as he spoke to the media on the evening of the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw, which saw Bafana placed in a tough Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of the European play-offs featuring Denmark, North Macedonia, the Republic of Ireland and Czechia.

Mudau’s confidence in his defensive abilities frees Nkota to focus mainly on attacking, even though the Mamelodi Sundowns defender also likes making forward runs. And although he is not immune to tracking back and assisting in defence, Nkota loves sharing the pitch with the man fondly known as Sailor.

“He told me, ‘just take them on and do your thing,’ and it gives me energy to attack because I don’t have to come back a lot. I must just go on and do what I am good at, take on the opposition and deliver for the team.”

Nkota sees the AFCON as a great platform to build towards the upcoming Fifa World Cup — a stage he remembers promising his family and friends he would one day play on.

“Ja, I said before I played for Bafana, when I was watching the last World Cup that Argentina won, I told my brother, my sister and my friends who were there that one day I will play on this stage. And my friends said they will support me.

"I am still reminding them — they are still happy for me and supporting me. I remember my brother and I were supporting Messi from the beginning in that World Cup.”

He was still playing in the DDC then.

Nkota says he is settling in well in Saudi Arabia, although the language barrier remains a challenge.

“I know the basics of how to greet and to say thank you. It is the only barrier but everything is right. My teammates like me because I am a smiling guy, always happy, win or lose. I like to dance and I like to sing, and they like it.”

A disciplined player who neither smokes nor drinks, he says adulthood will not change him.

“I promised my mom that even after turning twenty-one I will keep that promise of not being in the streets drinking or smoking.”

He also promises to help Bafana do well at the upcoming AFCON.